1805.050.00 Former Foster Care Youth (FFCY) – DSS Manuals

IM-95 November 22, 2023 ; IM-125 July 28, 2020 ; IM-100 August 4, 2017

RSMo 208.151.1 was updated August 28, 2019, to allow individuals under the age of 26 who were in foster care and receiving coverage through the Missouri Children’s Division (CD), on or within 30 days prior to, their 18 th birthday to be eligible for healthcare coverage under FFCY. Missouri CD automatically enrolls eligible participants in FFCY coverage at the time they age-out of foster care.

Section 1002(a)(2) of the Substance Use Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment (SUPPORT) for Patients and Communities Act became effective January 1, 2023 changing the way eligibility is determined for individuals who aged out of foster care in a state other than Missouri . These individuals fall into two separate groups based on when they reach the age of 18:

Individuals who turned 18 before January 1, 2023

Are under age 26;

Declare they were in foster care in a state other than Missouri for at least 6 months prior to aging out of care; and

Must be found ineligible for MO HealthNet coverage in all other applicable mandatory eligibility groups prior to being approved for coverage under the FFCY program.

Individuals who turned 18 on or after January 1, 2023

Are under age 26;

Declare they were in foster care in a state other than Missouri at the time they turned 18;

Are not required to be found ineligible for MO HealthNet coverage prior to being enrolled in FFCY coverage; and

Are ineligible for FFCY coverage if they are already covered under a mandatory level of Medicaid through the state of Missouri.

NOTE: Citizenship / Immigration Status and Social Security Number criteria do not have to be met for an individual to qualify for FFCY coverage.

Coverage for FFCY individuals who age out of foster care in Missouri is managed by CD in their eligibility system. Coverage for FFCY individuals who age out of foster care in a state other than Missouri will be processed by Family Support Division (FSD) through their eligibility system. The level of care for both groups is ME 38.

If an individual who is active on FFCY (ME 38) requests and is found eligible for MO HealthNet for Pregnant Women (MPW) or Non-MAGI coverage through FSD, do not reject the application . Until system updates are complete to FSD’s eligibility systems, send an email to COLE.MHNPOLICY@dss.mo.gov with “Former foster care state other than Missouri” in the subject line. For individuals covered through CD send an email, with a subject line of “AC ME 38 – NEEDS TO BE CLOSED” to COLE.MHNPOLICY@dss.mo.gov . Include the following information in the email:

Applicant’s Name

DCN

Current Address

Mailing Address (if different)

Phone Number

Level of Coverage Ready to Approve

Date of Application

Head of Household Name and DCN (if different than the applicant)

FSD staff will be notified when the coverage through CD is closed. Coverage through FSD must be approved the day that the former foster care coverage shows as closed on MXIX.

If it is unclear if a participant should be screened for Former Foster Care Youth, or if an individual who aged out of foster care in Missouri needs coverage reinstated, send an email to COLE.MHNPOLICY@dss.mo.gov to request a determination.

Individuals who qualify for former foster care youth coverage may also contact the MO HealthNet open enrollment broker by telephone to 800-348-6627, or Children’s Division at http://dss.mo.gov/cd/ or by telephone to 573-522-8024.