354-5 Title IV-E Kinship Guardianship Medicaid

Effective Date: December 1, 2014

No Previous Policy

Eligibility Requirements

A child is eligible to receive Medicaid when he leaves state custody and is placed with a relative guardian who receives a Title IV-E kinship guardianship assistance payment.

The Title IV-E Kinship Guardianship Medicaid is for children ages 14 - 18.

A child, up to age 21, can continue to receive this coverage if DHHS determines that he meets certain conditions which warrant extending the guardianship.

A child's siblings who are younger than 14 could receive this coverage if they are placed in the same guardianship home and the agreement includes them.

DHHS determines the Medicaid eligibility, and retains ownership of the Medicaid cases.

There is no income or asset test.

As the child ages off this program, the Independent Living and Former Foster Care programs will not be options for these individuals, since they will not be in Foster Care custody when they age out of the guardianship program.

Renewals

Title IV-E Kinship Guardianship Medicaid is not subject to yearly reviews. The eligibility will continue until the end of the month in which the guardianship agreement expires. Re-determine eligiblity for other medical programs when the child turns 18, or when the guardianship agreement ends.

DHHS and DWS will follow the same pathway that is currently in place to address future possible Medicaid eligibility after a foster child leaves state custody. DWS should consider all other programs such as Child 6-18, Pregnant Woman, or Disabled Medicaid programs.