The Michigan Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) provides over 85,000 children with access to affordable health insurance coverage. MI CHIP has been available to qualifying children for the last two decades. The mission of the program is to help low-income children receive vital and preventative medical services even if they cannot qualify for Medicaid. This means that even if a family does not have Medicaid eligibility children in that family may still qualify for CHIP registration. CHIP and Medicaid enrollment are similar but the programs serve different populations. To learn about Medicaid for children and CHIP as well as to get answers to important questions like what is covered by CHIP Medicaid, continue reading the rest of this page.
What is Michigan’s Children’s Health Insurance Program?
What is CHIP Medicaid in Michigan? The Children’s Health Insurance Program in Michigan works in combination with the MIChild, a state-designated health care program for young residents. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) administers MIChild as well as many other health care programs for children, such as Medicaid for children, U-19, Children’s Special Health Care Services (CSHCS) and Healthy Kids. The eligibility, cost and coverage of the Medicaid programs for children vary, but interested applicants can apply for both the state’s CHIP MIChild program and Healthy Kids through using the same application. After completing the CHIP enrollment process, the family of the recipient will receive information in the mail regarding the CHIP benefits card. Once enrolled, a beneficiary can see any in-network doctor or medical provider of his or her choosing.
Is CHIP considered Medicaid in Michigan?
Many parents may be wondering, “Is CHIP considered Medicaid?” when going through the single application process. While the process of how to apply for CHIP and children’s Medicaid is similar, MIChild is an extension of the Medicaid program. Medicaid helps those who are disabled or have a very low income. CHIP is designed to help children whose families lack Medicaid eligibility but still cannot afford health coverage. Medicaid ineligible children on CHIP still have access to many of the same medical services as those enrolled in Medicaid for children. The only difference between the programs is the cost. Those on Medicaid will not have to pay a premium, while CHIP recipients will have to pay a small fee to remain enrolled in the program.
Find out more about the health care services available for those enrolled in Medicaid by downloading our free guide.
Who qualifies for CHIP in Michigan?
The eligibility requirements to enroll in the Children’s Health Insurance Program are different from the qualifications for Medicaid. Likewise, the Medicaid for children programs, MIChild and Healthy Kids, each have varying standards. To enroll in either children’s health care programs, claimants must:
- Be U.S. citizens or legal aliens
- Be residents of the state or from a migrant worker family
- Meet the income guidelines
- Have a Social Security Number
MIChild, state-designated CHIP, is available for minors from birth to 19 years of age. Those applying for CHIP in MI must not have had health coverage for the last six months. However, there are some exceptions to this rule. Petitioners who are applying for CHIP benefits will have to prove their identity, SSN, immigration status and income level with the required documentation.
What services are covered by CHIP in Michigan?
The Michigan Children’s Health Insurance Program manages health care services through a network of medical professionals. In-network providers must render services covered by CHIP in order for the state to pay for medically necessary treatments and procedures. The following list contain some of the most common types of medical treatments covered by CHIP benefits:
- Doctor visits and emergency services
- Laboratory work and X-rays
- Dental, vision and mental health care
- Family planning and pregnancy care
- Hearing and speech services
Most preventative and medically necessary care is covered by CHIP but experimental or unproven medical treatments will most likely not be covered. Families that do not pay the premium for enrollment will lose coverage and will not have any health care services covered by the state.
How to Apply for CHIP in Michigan
Many people may not be sure how to apply for CHIP in the state of Michigan. Parents and caretakers can apply for CHIP online by creating and logging in to a MIBridges account. This account allows petitioners to initiate applying to Medicaid CHIP, Healthy Kids and many types of government assistance programs. The account will also notify applicants when there is an update to their enrollment status. CHIP and Medicaid enrollment can both be done through the MIBridges account.
Anyone interested in applying for CHIP with a paper application can download an application online and turn it in to your local human services office. To request a paper application to be sent to you, call 888-988-6300. Please be aware that giving false information on benefits application is a serious crime that can come with a prison sentence. Always give correct information when applying for CHIP benefits or any other type of government assistance.
Find out how to apply to Medicaid successfully in our comprehensive guide.