The following information was given to me by my employer in regards to the Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) offer of free or low-cost, affordable health insurance to children and families. I hope that by my posting the information for my readers to find, more low income families will learn about the affordable health insurance, medicaid, and CHIP programs. Read on to learn about the government health insurance premium assistance program, medicaid, and CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program).

If you are eligible for health coverage from your employer, but are unable to afford the premiums, some States have premium assistance programs that can help pay for coverage. These States use funds from their Medicaid or CHIP programs to help people who are eligible for employer-sponsored health coverage, but need assistance in paying their health premiums.

If you or your dependents are already enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP and you live in a State listed below, you can contact your State Medicaid or Chip office to find out if premium assistance is available.

If you or your dependents are NOT currently enrolled in Medicaid of CHIP, and you think you or any of your dependents might be eligible for either of these programs, you can contact your State Medicaid or CHIP office or dial 1-877-KIDS NOW or www.insurekidsnow.gov to find out how to apply. If you qualify, you can ask the State if it has a program that might help you pay the premiums for an employer-sponsored plan.

Once it is determined that you or your dependents are eligible for premium assistance under Medicaid or CHIP , your employer’s health plan is required to permit you and your dependents to enroll in the plan. This is called a “special enrollment” opportunity, and you must request coverage within 60 days of being determined eligible for premium assistance.

If you live in one of the following States, you may be eligible for assistance paying your employer health plan premiums. The following list of States is current as of January 22, 2010. You should contact your State for further information on eligibility.

Alabama – Medicaid

• www.medicaid.alabama.gov
• 1-800-362-1504

Alaska – Medicaid

• health.hss.state.ak.us/dpa/programs/medicaid
• 1-888-318-8890 (outside Anchorage)
• 907-269-6529 (Anchorage)

Arizona – CHIP

• www.azahcccs.gov/applicants/default.aspx
• 602-417-5422

Arkansas – CHIP

• www.arkidsfirst.com
• 1-888-474-8275

California – Medicaid

• www.dhcs.ca.gov/Pages/default.aspx
• 1-800-635-2570

Colorado – Medicaid and CHIP

Medicaid

• www.colorado.gov
• 1-800-866-3513

CHIP

• www.CHPplus.org
• 303-866-3243

Florida – Medicaid

• www.fdhc.state.fl.us/Medicaid/index.shtml
• 1-866-762-2237

Georgia – Medicaid

• dch.ga.gov (click on Programs, then Medicaid)
• 1-800-869-1150

Idaho – Medicaid and CHIP

Medicaid

• www.accesstohealthinsurance.idaho.gov
• 208-334-5747

CHIP

• www.medicaid.idaho.gov
• 1-800-926-2588

Indiana – Medicaid

• www.in.gov/fssa/2408.htm
• 1-877-438-4479

Iowa – Medicaid

• www.dhs.state.ia.us/hipp
• 1-888-346-9562

Kansas – Medicaid

• www.khpa.ks.gov
• 1-800-635-2570

Kentucky – Medicaid

• chfs.ky.gov/dms/default.htm
• 1-800-635-2570

Louisiana – Medicaid

• www.dhh.louisiana.gov/offices/?ID=92
• 1-888-342-0555

Maine – Medicaid

• www.maine.gov/dhhs/oms
• 1-800-321-5557

Massachusetts – Medicaid and CHIP

• www.mass.gov/MassHealth
• 1-800-462-112-

Minnesota – Medicaid

• www.dhs.state.mn.us
• 800-657-3739

Missouri – Medicaid

• www.dss.mo.gov/mhd/index.htm
• 573-751-6944

Montana – Medicaid

• medicaidprovider.hhs.mt.gov/clientpages/clientindex.shtml
• 1-800-694-3084

Nebraska – Medicaid

• www.dhhs.ne.gov/med/medindex.htm
• 1-877-255-3092

Nevada – Medicaid and CHIP

Medicaid

• dwss.nv.gov
• 1-800-992-0900

CHIP

• www.nevadacheckup.state.nv.us
• 1-877-543-7669

New Hampshire – Medicaid

• www.dhhs.state.nh.us/DHHS/MEDICAIDPROGRAM/default.htm
• 1-800-852-3345 ext 5254

New Jersey – Medicaid and CHIP

Medicaid

• www.state.nj.us/humanservices/dmahs/clients/medicaid
• 1-800-356-1561

CHIP

• www.njfamilycare.org/index.html
• 1-800-701-0710

New Mexico – Medicaid and CHIP

• www.hsd.state.nm.us/mad/index.html
• 1-888-997-2583

New York – Medicaid

• www.nyhealth.gov/health_care/medicaid
• 1-800-541-2831

North Carolina – Medicaid

• www.nc.gov
• 919-855-4100

North Dakota – Medicaid

• www.nd.gov/dhs/services/medicalserv/medicaid
• 1-800-755-2604

Oaklahoma – Medicaid

• www.insureoklahoma.org
• 1-888-365-3742

Oregon – Medicaid and CHIP

Medicaid

• www.oregon.gov/DHS/healthplan/index.shtml
• 1-800-359-9517

CHIP

• www.oregon.gov/DHS/healthplan/app_benefits/ohp4u.shtml
• 1-800-359-9517

Pennsylvania – Medicaid

• www.dpw.state.pa.us/partnersproviders/medicalassistance/doingbusiness/003670053.htm
• 1-800-644-7730

Rhode Island – Medicaid

• www.dhs.ri.gov
• 401-462-5300

South Carolina – Medicaid

• www.scdhhs.gov
• 1-888-549-0820

Texas – Medicaid

• www.gethipptexas.com
• 1-800-440-0493

Utah – Medicaid

• health.utah.gov/medicaid
• 1-866-435-7414

Vermont – Medicaid

• ovha.vermont.gov
• 1-800-250-8427

Virginia – Medicaid and CHIP

Medicaid

• www.famis.org
• 1-800-432-5924

CHIP

• www.famis.org
• 1-866-873-2647

Washington – Medicaid

• hrsa.dshs.wa.gov/SummaryOfServices.htm
• 1-800-562-6136

West Virginia – Medicaid

• www.wvrecovery.com/hipp.htm
• 304-342-1604

Wisconsin – Medicaid

• dhs.wisconsin.gov/medicaid/publications/p-10095.htm
• 1-800-362-3002

Wyoming – Medicaid

• www.health.wyo.gov/healthcarefin/index.html
• 307-777-7531

To see if any more States have added a premium program since January 22, 2010, or for more information on special enrollment rights, you can contact either:

US Department of Labor
Employment Benefits Security Administration
www.dol.gov/ebsa
1-866-444-EBSA (3272)

or

US Department of Health and Human Services
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
www.cms.hhs.gov
1-877-267-2323, Ext. 61565

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