- TO:
- ALL FAMILY SUPPORT DIVISION OFFICES
- FROM:
- ALYSON CAMPBELL, DIRECTOR
- SUBJECT:
- CLARIFICATION OF POSSIBLE MO HEALTHNET ELIGIBILITY FOR PERSONS AGE 19-26 WHO HAVE PREVIOUSLY BEEN IN FOSTER CARE
- MANUAL REVISION #22:
0905.010.10
DISCUSSION:
The purpose of this memorandum is to clarify the procedure to follow when a person indicates on a MO HealthNet application that he/she was in Foster Care on, or 30 days prior to, their 18th birthday.
Income Maintenance memorandum IM-81 POSSIBLE MO HEALTHNET ELIGIBILITY FOR PERSONS AGE 19-26 WHO HAVE PREVIOUSLY BEEN IN FOSTER CARE dated September 10, 2013 introduced Senate Bill 127 (August 28, 2013) (RSMo 208.151) that allows qualifying persons to receive healthcare coverage (ME code 38) through the Children’s Division until their 26th birthday. To qualify, a person must:
- Have been in Foster Care on, or within 30 days prior to, their 18th birthday; and
- Apply and be determined ineligible for MO HealthNet through the Family Support Division (FSD).
EXCEPTION: Uninsured Women’s Health Services (UWHS) or Extended Women’s Health Services (EWHS) do not provide full MO HealthNet benefits. When an applicant/participant is only eligible for either of these two programs, they must be referred for full healthcare coverage through the Children’s Division. See the explanation of referrals below.
If the applicant is eligible for MO HealthNet coverage through FSD they must be approved for that coverage. When approved through FSD, they are not eligible for coverage through the Children’s Division.
If the application for MO HealthNet coverage is rejected or approved for UWHS, it is the responsibility of the applicant to respond to a paragraph included on the MO HealthNet notice. The paragraph in the notices serves as the FSD referral to the Children’s Division. The notices direct individuals to contact the MO HealthNet open enrollment broker by telephone to 800-348-6627, or the Children's Division at https://dss.mo.gov/cd/ or by telephone to 573-522-8024.
Some applicants for MO HealthNet may already have active coverage (ME code 38) through Children’s Division. Do not reject the MO HealthNet application if the person is eligible for coverage through FSD.
When a person has active coverage ME 38 and they apply and are eligible for MO HealthNet benefits through FSD, send an email, with a subject line of AC ME 38 - NEEDS TO BE CLOSED to Cole.MHNPolicy@dss.mo.gov. Include the applicant’s name, DCN, and current address. Staff will be notified as soon as the ME 38 coverage is closed. The FSD application may be approved the next working day following notification.
NECESSARY ACTION:
- Review this memorandum with all staff.
AC/df