New York State has a health insurance plan for kids called Child Health Plus. Depending on your family’s income, your child may be eligible to join either Children’s Medicaid or Child Health Plus. Both Children’s Medicaid and Child Health Plus are available through dozens of providers throughout the state.
To be eligible for either Children’s Medicaid or Child Health Plus, children must be under the age of 19 and be residents of New York State. Whether a child qualifies for Children’s Medicaid or Child Health Plus depends on gross family income.
Children who are not eligible for Medicaid can enroll in Child Health Plus if they don’t already have health insurance and are not eligible for coverage under the public employees’ state health benefits plan. Some children who were covered by employer-based health insurance within the past six months may be subject to a waiting period before they can be enrolled in Child Health Plus. Determining whether your child is subject to a waiting period will depend on your household income and the reason your child(ren) lost employer-based coverage.
With Child Health Plus, premiums will vary. Depending on your income level, you may pay a full premium, a reduced premium or no monthly premium. We will help you determine your premium level when you meet with us to apply. There are no co-payments for services under Child Health Plus, so you don’t have to pay anything when your child receives care through these plans.
If your child is enrolled in Children’s Medicaid, you may be required to enroll in a managed care plan, or you may bring your child to any provider who accepts Children’s Medicaid. If your child is enrolled in Child Health Plus, you will be given a list of providers near you. The provider may be a single doctor, group practice of several doctors, or community health center. If it is a group practice, you will be asked to choose a doctor for your child. Either way, you will be getting the personal health care that your child deserves!
- Well-child care
- Physical exams
- Immunizations
- Diagnosis and treatment of illness and injury
- X-ray and lab tests
- Outpatient surgery
- Emergency care
- Prescription and non-prescription drugs if ordered
- Inpatient hospital medical or surgical care
- Short-term therapeutic outpatient services (chemotherapy, hemodialysis)
- Inpatient and outpatient treatment for alcoholism and substance abuse, and mental health
- Dental care
- Vision care
- Speech and hearing
- Durable medical equipment
- Emergency ambulance transportation to a hospital
- Hospice
Call the Perinatal Network to schedule an appointment to apply for Child Health Plus – 315-732-4657 or toll free 877-267-6193.