Medicaid and State CHIP Program

Healthy Start and Healthy Families are Ohio Medicaid programs which provide eligible Ohio children, pregnant women, and families comprehensive health coverage. This is the name that Ohio gives the federal CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program).  In 2008, Ohio Medicaid expanded Healthy Start eligibility guidelines to cover more of Ohio’s uninsured.  Ohioans who qualify for Healthy Start and Healthy Families gain access to important services like:  doctor visits, prescriptions, hospital care, immunizations, vision and dental care, substance abuse treatment, mental health services and more.

Healthy Start covers children up to age 19 in families with income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level.  The program also covers pregnant women of any age in families with income at or below 200% federal poverty level and certain children younger than 21 aging out of the foster care system.

Pregnant women are eligible for Healthy Start coverage during the entire pregnancy and up to 60 days after the baby is born.  Babies born to mothers on Healthy Start are automatically eligible for free health coverage for one full year from the date of birth.

Children in families whose income is between 150% and 200% of the federal poverty level must be considered “uninsured” to be eligible for Healthy Start.  Please note that children in families with income below 150% of the federal poverty level can have other health insurance and still qualify for Healthy Start.

The Healthy Families program provides the same quality health coverage as Healthy Start to parents/caregivers and their dependent children who have income at or below 90% of the federal poverty level.  These families can have other health insurance and still qualify for coverage.  It should be noted that Medicaid programs such as Healthy Start and Healthy Families are always the payer of last resort, meaning that claims will be submitted to the private insurance before Medicaid is billed.

Families can apply for Healthy Start and Healthy Families online at http://jfs.ohio.gov/ohp/.  They can also contact Huron County Department of Job and Family Services.  Their phone number is 419 668-8126 or 1 800 668 5175.  They can also stop in and request and application.  There is no face to face interview requirement for these programs. 

To complete the application process, the applicants must send their application and copies of the following documents to Huron County Department of Job and Family Services: proof of income, proof of pregnancy (if applicable), proof of U.S. citizenship or alien status, proof of other health insurance coverage (if applicable).  To maintain eligibility, these programs are reviewed every 6 or 12 months, depending on the program the child qualifies for.

For more information please contact Huron County Department of Job and Family services at 419 668 8126 or 1 800 668 5175 or online at  www.huroncountydjfs.org.