MS CHIP Frequently Asked Questions

Medicaid is a program for people with low income who meet certain eligibility requirements and programs can vary from state-to-state.

Medicare is a federal health insurance program for people who are age 65 or older, disabled persons, or those with end-stage kidney disease. Medicare eligibility is not based on income, and basic coverage is the same in each state.

When you apply for CHIP, you must fill out an application form. You will also need to have various documents:

• Information about household members (name, date of birth and Social Security number)
• Rent or mortgage information
• Expenses (utilities, daycare, etc.)
• Vehicle information
• Bank statements
• Income (pay stubs)
• Proof of disability or medical records showing a lasting medical condition
• Recent medical bills
• Proof of citizenship
• Additional information as requested

A "medical emergency" is when you reasonably believe that your health is in serious danger – when every second counts. A medical emergency includes severe pain, a bad injury, a serious illness, or a medical condition that is quickly getting much worse.

If you have a medical emergency:

• Get medical help as quickly as possible. Call 911 for help or go to the nearest emergency room, hospital, or urgent care center. You don't need to get approval or a referral first from your primary care doctor or other plan provider.

Urgent care is not emergency care. It is care that you need sooner than a normal appointment (within 24 hours). You might need this for things like sprains, mild-to-moderate bleeding, bruises, minor burns, drug reactions or an illness lasting longer than a day. Seek urgent care from a provider in the network. If you require urgently needed care when you are in an area outside of your network, then you may get this care from any provider.

If you get care from a non-network provider that is not an emergency or that is not urgent without prior authorization, you must pay the entire cost yourself.