How do I Add a Grandchild to Health Insurance Without Legal Custody in Pennsylvania?
Over five percent of all Pennsylvania children were living in households headed by grandparents as of September 2008. Grandparents in caregiver roles, whether temporarily or permanently, may wish to provide health insurance for their grandchildren. According to New York Life Insurance Company, grandparents who are not legal guardians usually cannot add a grandchild to an employer's health benefits plan in most states. Because grandparents may also have limited income, especially during retirement, the state's Medical Assistance or Children's Health Insurance Program may cover a grandchild.
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Things You'll Need
- Application for assistance
- Government-issued form of identification
- Birth certificates for all members of household
- Social Security cards for all members of household
- Proof of household income
- Receipts for eligible expenses
- Copy of residential lease agreement and utility bills
Instructions
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Select one of the three application formats for Pennsylvania public health insurance benefits: on the Internet through Pennsylvania's COMPASS online system, by telephone at 800-986-5437 or by mail to your chosen CHIP insurance provider. Identify the CHIP insurance providers available in your county, and select one insurance company to administer benefits to your grandchild. Note the mailing address of your chosen insurance provider.
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Organize all documentation of the personal information related to you and the grandchildren living with you. Specifically, you must have birth certificates and Social Security cards for all members of the household. You must also present your driver's license, passport or other form of government-issued identification, as well as copies of your lease and recent utility bills. Complete the application form with all requested personal information, including your name and contact information, all household members, dates of birth, age, social security numbers, residency in Pennsylvania, each household member's relationship to you and citizenship status. Include information about each grandchild who needs health insurance coverage.
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Gather proof of your household's total income from the past 60 days, including information about each household member's wages from employment, social security payments and child support payments. Attach proof of your household income if applying by mail, or prepare to mail proof to your chosen CHIP insurance provider company if applying by phone or on the Internet. Identify your expenses and provide receipts for work-related transportation and child care, if relevant to your situation.
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Provide all information required on the application about any past or current health insurance coverage, such as any employment-based benefits that you have from a job. Identify the health insurance provider, the individuals covered by your policy and the coverage dates. Finish the application by filling in any required fields, as well as any optional fields, if you would like to do so.
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Review your completed application and form instructions with care. Submit the signed and dated application form using your chosen format, whether applying online, by phone or by mail. Provide any follow-up information, as requested by Pennsylvania CHIP to enroll your grandchild.
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Tips & Warnings
Contact your private health insurance provider, if you have one, to find out whether you can add a grandchild to your coverage even if you are not the child's legal custodian.
Contact Pennsylvania Medicaid at 800-692-7462 or Pennsylvania Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) at 800-986-5437 to learn about your grandchild's eligibility for free or low-cost health care benefits.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit grandmother with grandchild image by Pavel Losevsky from Fotolia.com
