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MISSISSIPPI DIVISION OF MEDICAID Eligibility Policy and Procedures Manual CHAPTER 101 – Coverage Groups and Processing Applications and Reviews P a g e | 71 Effective Month: September 2023 101.14 CONTINUOUS ELIGIBILITY FOR CHILDREN When a child under age 19 is approved for Medicaid or CHIP, eligibility continues for 12 months, regardless of changes in family income and other household circumstances. This policy must be applied when determining and re- determining eligibility for a child under age 19, regardless of category (MAGI- related or ABD).

Continuous coverage may also be referred to as a protected period because the child cannot lose eligibility in the assigned category, unless one of a limited number of early termination reasons is met. In addition, the child’s program cannot be changed from Medicaid to CHIP unless the Head of Household voluntarily requests early termination, or the child was approved in error in the current program.

101.14.01 EARLY TERMINATION REASONS FOR CHILDREN The following reasons may shorten the 12-month certification for a child in MAGI-related or ABD programs, as applicable.

• If a child dies, his eligibility must be terminated. • If a child moves out of the state, his eligibility must be terminated. • If a child attains the maximum age for his program and an assessment of continued eligibility indicates the child is not eligible in any other MAGI-related or ABD program, his eligibility must be terminated. Refer to “Ex parte Reviews” later in this chapter for further discussion on assessing eligibility in another program.

o When a child in the Katie Beckett Program will age out of this program, continued eligibility must be assessed in another program. o When a MAGI-related child turning age 19 is pregnant, the child will remain in her current coverage through her post-partum period if the pregnancy information is verified and coded in the system.