Maryland Children's Health Program (SCHIP)

Program Overview

The Maryland Children’s Health Program (SCHIP) program provides affordable health insurance to children of poor families living in the state of Maryland. There are thousands of children who are uninsured and this program provides them with an opportunity to get medical insurance and improve their health conditions. The program is federally administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Maryland Department of Health manages the program at the state level.

Program Objectives

Maryland SCHIP provides medical assistance to children who are not eligible to apply for the Medicaid program and are also uninsured. Kids who are dependent on their parents and are less than 19 years of age are eligible to apply for this program. In some cases, the program might also provide health insurance to uninsured parents.

Program Benefits

• The SCHIP program in the state of Maryland provides various health care services for kids including,
• Regular child check-ups
  Immunization and other preventive measures
• Dental check-ups of the child
• Eye care services (eyeglasses, eye care services)
• Emergency services to the patients
• Medication payments
• Therapy

Eligibility Requirements

There are some mandatory requirements for the Maryland SCHIP program that the applicant needs to fulfill to qualify for the program’s benefits. Those are,

• The applicant must be a citizen or legal alien in the United States of America
• The applicant who is a legal alien living in Maryland (it should be noted that the parents of the applicant are not required to prove their residential status)
• The applicant must be 19 years old or younger or a parent/caretaker with a child under 19 years of age
• The applicant must not be receiving any health insurance including the Medicaid
• The applicant has parents working in the state of Maryland.
  Other important eligibility requirements include,
• Total number of members in the household
• The total annual income of the candidate
• It is important to check the income guideline about the Maryland SCHIP. Some applicants may have to pay a premium for the health coverage depending upon their income level.
  You can also visit the Maryland Children’s Health Program (SCHIP) website to check your eligibility criteria for the program. The applicant will have to provide information regarding
• Earnings
• Rent or mortgage
• Utility expenses
• Child support expenses
• Day-care expenses
• Medical bills, if you are older than 60, or disabled
• Other benefit programs you have applied to
• Any other payments

How to Apply

There are multiple ways to apply for the Maryland SCHIP program like,
Online application
You can make your application online by visiting application page provided on the official Maryland SCHIP website where you will be provided with all the necessary information. This website provides easy and fast online services to the citizens of Maryland to apply for the SCHIP program.
Apply through the local office
Another easy way to apply for the Maryland SCHIP program is through the Department of Health office. It will provide every possible assistance and the officials will make the whole process less daunting by providing the necessary information.
You can download the application form through the official SCHIP website and fill it as accurately and truthfully as possible because a false statement can lead to termination of the application. Once the application is submitted you cannot change it hence it is advisable to be careful while filling out the application form.
Before filling the application form make sure you have all the required information to speed up the process. Once you have filled out the application form you can return it to the SCHIP office. Visit the Local Health Department Directory on the Maryland Health Department website to find an SCHIP office near you.
Apply Via Phone Call
Individuals interested in the program can also call the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH) of the state of Maryland at 1-800-456-8900. You can then talk to the SCHIP program’s representative in your county and ask for the application form. By calling the above number you get to talk to a highly qualified member of the program who can answer any queries you might have about the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP)

For Further Information

If you have more queries please visit the Maryland Children’s Health Program website. Here you will be provided with the most recent information regarding the program to make the application process easy. You can choose any of the above options to get the application form and apply either in person or online however you feel comfortable.

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