Michigan Child Health insurance, often referred to as MIChild, offers low cost health insurance coverage for Michigan children who do not have other health insurance coverage and are under the age of 19. The state of Michigan offers MIChild insurance to families who do not qualify for Medicaid insurance. MIChild covers health, dental, mental and substance abuse services to those who qualify.
Federal Poverty Guidelines
The Michigan Department of Community Health bases income eligibility for MIChild on the current federal poverty guidelines. Federal poverty guidelines vary slightly from year to year. The income amounts are also different depending on family size. MIChild divides its income eligibility guidelines into children between the ages of 1 to 19 and children under 1 year old. The annual federal poverty guidelines according to family size are as follows: one member, $10,890; two members, $14,710; three members, $18,530; four members, $22,350; five members, $26,170; six members, $29,990; seven members, $33.810; and eight members, $37,630.
Income Guidelines Children 1 to 19
If you have children between the ages of 1 and 19, your income must be above 150 percent and equal to or below 200 percent of the federal poverty guideline amounts. The current annual federal poverty amount is $14,710 for a family of two people. Your income must fall between 150 and 200 percent of this amount to qualify for MIChild. For example, if you are a single parent of one child under the age of 19, your annual income must be between $22, 065 ($14,710 x 150 percent) and $29,420 ($14,710 x 200 percent) to qualify for MIChild benefits.
Income Guidelines Children Under 1
If you have children under the age of 1, your income must be above 185 percent and equal to or below 200 percent of the federal poverty guideline amounts. For example, if you are a single parent of one child under the age of 1, your annual income must be between $27, 213.50 ($14,710 x 185 percent) and $29,420 ($14,710 x 200 percent) to qualify for MIChild benefits.
Other Eligibility Guidelines
MIChild applicants must be Michigan residents and U.S. citizens, resident aliens or nationals. Applicants must not currently have comprehensive group or private health insurance. Specific types of stand-alone insurance such as catastrophic, dental, or optical only insurance policies do not count as comprehensive coverage. The applicant must not have had any type of employer based comprehensive insurance coverage within the six months prior to applying for MIChild. There is an exception to this rule for those who have experienced an involuntary loss of their employer-based insurance, such as in the case of a permanent job lay off.
References
Writer Bio
Sue-Lynn Carty has over five years experience as both a freelance writer and editor, and her work has appeared on the websites Work.com and LoveToKnow. Carty holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in business administration, with an emphasis on financial management, from Davenport University.