Optional Coverage of Children Elected to be Covered by Mississippi

Optional Coverage of Children Elected to be Covered by Mississippi A. Children under age twenty-one (21) who are in foster homes or private institutions and the Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services (DCPS) assumes full or partial financial responsibility are certified for Medicaid coverage by DCPS if the child’s income is within state established standards, converted to a modified adjusted gross income (MAGI)equivalent standard. Children under age twenty-one (21) in adoptions subsidized in full or part by DCPS and children in adoption assistance who cannot be placed for adoption without medical assistance due to special needs of the child are eligible for Medicaid regardless of the child’s income, as determined by DCPS. B. Independent foster care adolescents who are in foster care under the responsibility of DCPS on their eighteenth (18th) birthday have Medicaid coverage continued until age twenty-one (21) without regard to any change in circumstances such as income or resources. 1. As required by the Affordable Care Act (ACA), former foster children receive Medicaid coverage on a mandatory basis to age twenty-six (26); however, the optional coverage of former foster children to age twenty-one (21) was in place prior to the ACA. 2. The Division of Medicaid, in coordination with DCPS, certifies Medicaid coverage for this group. C. Uninsured children under age nineteen (19) whose household income is at or below two hundred percent (200%) of the federal poverty level (FPL) converted to a MAGI-equivalent standard are covered by the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which is a separate health plan. Covered children include: 1. Infants to age one (1) whose household income exceeds the MAGI-equivalent standards of one hundred eighty-five percent (185%) but does not exceed two hundred percent (200%) of the federal poverty level, 2. Children age one (1) to age six (6) whose household income exceeds the MAGI-equivalent standards of one hundred thirty-three percent (133%) but does not exceed two hundred percent (200%) of the FPL, and 3. Children age six (6) to age nineteen (19) whose household income exceeds one hundred thirty-three percent (133%) of the FPL but does not exceed the MAGI-equivalent standard of two hundred percent (200%). D. The Division of Medicaid certifies eligibility for CHIP.