Mississippi 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 Medicaid, 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 citizenship
• Additional information as requested

Your medical home is the provider you go to all the time.

• They have your medical records. This lets the doctor see you faster.
• They know what shots, illnesses and drugs you have had. They know what works best.
• They know your allergies and other health issues.
• They know what behavior and health is normal for you.
• They can answer your questions about previous treatment.

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.

Your child's enrollment in the Mississippi CHIP program is for 12 months or until your child loses eligibility, whichever comes first. The Mississippi Division of Medicaid (DOM) will tell UnitedHealthcare the date your child is enrolled. Your child’s eligibility will continue until DOM tells UnitedHealthcare the date your child will be disenrolled.

Important — You must contact DOM if any of these things happen:

• Your family moves
  • (If you don't, DOM and UnitedHealthcare won’t have your correct address. This will stop you getting important information about your child's coverage and eligibility.)
• Your family size changes
• Your income goes up or down
• You get health care coverage under another policy or there are changes to that coverage

You need to renew or recertify your child's Mississippi CHIP coverage every year. DOM will send you a letter when your child is due for an eligibility review. This letter will tell you what you need to do to renew your child's coverage for another year. If you have questions about the recertification process, contact DOM at 1-866-635-1347.

If your child is disenrolled from the CHIP program, their coverage ends on the last day of the month that their eligibility ends.