MARYLAND CHILDREN’S HEALTH PROGRAM

and

MEDICAL ASSISTANCE for FAMILIES

Harford County Health Department

120 S. Hays Street

Bel Air, Maryland 21014

Phone: (443) 643-0343 Fax: (443) 643-0344

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Maryland Children’s Health Program
Maryland Children's Health Program (MCHP) provides free health care to eligible pregnant women and children with low to average incomes.

Maryland Children’s Health Premium Program
Maryland Children's Health Premium Program provides health care to eligible children at a low monthly premium for all for middle-income families with no health insurance.

Medical Assistance for Families
Medical Assistance for Families will provide comprehensive health care to parents and other family members caring for children.  Eligibility depends on family size and income.

All three programs cover in-patient hospital care, medical doctor visits, mental health services, lab tests, dental and vision care (for children and pregnant woman), medications and immunizations

INCOME GUIDLEINES (below)

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Locations and Hours of Operations For Receiving Applications

Applications can be mailed to the following address:

MCHP

P.O. Box 797

Bel Air, MD  21014

or

Applications can be faxed directly to the MCHP Office

443-643-0344

or

Applications can be submitted in person at any of the following Health Department locations:

PLEASE MAKE SURE YOUR APPLICATION IS SIGNED

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 ** Consultations can be made with Case Managers

at the Bel Air location and are 

 by

APPOINTMENT ONLY

Applications can also be received by electronic mail @ www.marylandSAIL.org

The Maryland Children’s Health Program (MCHP) gives full health benefits for children up to age 19, and pregnant women of any age who meet the income guidelines. MCHP enrollees obtain care from a variety of Managed Care Organizations (MCO) through the Maryland HealthChoice Program.

Those eligible for MCHP are:

• Children under age 19, who are not eligible for Medicaid, and whose countable income is at or below 200% of the federal poverty level (FPL);
• Pregnant women of any age, whose countable income is at or below 250% FPL;
• Uninsured (NOTE: In some instances, having health insurance will not prevent eligibility for MCHP. Even if you have health insurance, it’s best to apply and let the case manager assigned to your application determine whether your health insurance will affect your eligibility for MCHP.)

For more information on income guidelines for MCHP, please see MCHP Income Guidelines.

The application is brief and the process is simple. The application asks for:

• General Information (such as Name, Address, Telephone Number),
• Any health insurance coverage,
• Information about family members (such as names and birth dates)
• Social Security numbers of applicants,
• Sources and amounts of family income.

Local Health Departments will mail applications on request. Also, applications are available at:

• Local Health Departments
• Local Department of Social Services
• WIC Centers, and
• Local Hospitals and Schools.

For your convenience you may download a copy of the MCHP application from this site.  See MCHP Application Form.

Applications can be completed at home and mailed in or dropped off at any local health department. Case managers are available to assist you there.

Those found eligible for MCHP will receive an enrollment packet in the mail to select a MCO for health care. 

A pregnant woman of any age can complete and sign the application herself. Your eligibility is determined based on your income listed on the application, not your parents’. If your parents provide your food and shelter, indicate that on the application.

Yes, if neither of the applicant’s parents live with the child. Your income would not be counted toward determining the applicant’s eligibility unless you have adopted the child.

If you are eligible for MCHP:

When you receive your enrollment packet in the mail, you will:

The Premium program is a low cost health plan for uninsured children up to age 19.  MCHP Premium is for families with incomes above the regular MCHP limit.  Benefits and eligibility requirements for the Premium Program follow the same rules as the regular MCHP Program.

By paying one low monthly premium per family, children may get health care through an employer health plan or HealthChoice, Maryland’s Managed Care Program.  Qualified families will either have monthly payments of $48 or $60 per family, depending on their income.

Children enrolled in an employer health plan will receive a second insurance card to cover costs of co-payments, deductibles and co-insurance. 

Medical Assistance for Families will provide comprehensive health care to many more parents and other family members caring for children.  Children under this program are classified up to the age of 21 and can file separately if leaving on their own.  Eligibility depends on income and related family size.  The annual income limit is about $20,500 for a family of three.  Medical Assistance for Families will provide free health services including:

• Low-cost or free prescriptions;
• Doctor visits;
• Emergency room visits;
• Hospital stays; 
•  X-ray and lab services; and, 
• Many other services

Requirements

It should take less than 30 minutes to complete a medical assistance application, if you have the necessary information which is listed below.  Please remember to answer ALL questions.

• General Information (such as Name, Address, Telephone Number),
• Information about family members (such as names and birth dates),
• Proof of Citizenship and Identity for all family members applying.  (See below for a list of ways to prove citizenship and identity.)
• Social Security numbers of all family members applying for health care,
• EDC (delivery date) for those filing as a pregnant women.
• Sources and amounts of family income.  (Paycheck stubs or current tax returns from those individuals who are self-employed).
• Information on any other health insurance coverage,
• Child care expenses and verification (if applicable).
• Make sure application is SIGNED

INCOME ELIGIBILTY CHART – (Guidelines)

If your income is slightly higher than the amount listed above for your family size, you may still qualify.  To find out for certain, you need to complete an application.

Citizenship and Identity

As of September 2006 - Under requirements from the Federal Government, specifically the Deficit Reduction Act (DRA), EACH applicant seeking Medical Assistance coverage must provide:

• ONE proof of citizenship, and
• ONE proof of identity

Below is a list of examples of some of the acceptable documents you can show to prove your citizenship and identity.  If you cannot obtain any acceptable documents to prove your citizenship, there are Affidavit’s that must be completed and signed by two U.S. citizens.  You or your authorized representative will also need to sign an Affidavit to explain why you do not have any of the listed documents available to prove your citizenship. These affidavits can be found on the right hand side of this page.

If you have one of the following documents, you can provide it to prove both Citizenship and Identity.  (If you were not born in the U.S. and were not a U.S. citizen at birth, you must provide one of these 3 documents.):

                          U.S. passport (current or expired);

                          Certificate of Naturalization (N-550 or N-570); or

                          Certificate of Citizenship (N-560 or N-561)

Acceptable Documents

If you cannot provide one of those documents, you will need to proved one document from each column below:

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Frequently Asked Questions - MCHP

ASSOCIATED DOCUMENTS: