MASSHEALTH WILL EXPAND TO COVER MORE CHILDREN

There is good news for many low-income families with no health insurance for their children. In an effort to insure more low-income children, Massachusetts will receive $225 million in Federal money for the next five years to expand the MassHealth program. Within the next three months it is expected that MassHealth will extend coverage to children age 18 and under with family incomes up to 200% of poverty level ($26,600/ year for families of three). An estimated 35,000 more children will be entitled to medical insurance coverage as a result of this policy.

MassHealth also plans to make improvements to its application. MassHealth is using the expertise of area health advocates and medical providers to create a more comprehensive application. One of the improvements is the integration of the Children’s Medical Security Plan (CMSP) to the MassHealth application. The upcoming Mass-Health application will allow parents to apply for CMSP for their children without filing separate applications.

Information about the MassHealth expansion and the new MassHealth application will be made available as we learn more.

The previous article was compiled from "Newsline: from the Federation for Children with Special Needs", Fall 1997 and the CMSP information pamphlet. Edith Kenneally of Patient Financial Services contributed many policy updates.

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