May 12, 2014

Health insurance with Medicaid is the perfect Mother’s Day gift

Mother’s Day might be behind us but it’s not too late to give your mother a special gift. Let the moms in your life know that health insurance is available through Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

Enrollment is open all year round. Children and teens up to 19 can qualify for free or low-cost coverage – and parents may be eligible too.

Find out how to get Medicaid or CHIP coverage.

In many states, more adults than ever are eligible for Medicaid, so you can try again if you were denied Medicaid coverage in the past. Once enrolled, you can use your new Medicaid or CHIP coverage to get preventive care, doctor visits, mental health care, hospitals stays, prescription drugs, and more.

Benefits for families

Here are some ways health coverage helps families:

• You can be more productive at work.
• Your family will be more financially secure.
• You’ll be better able to engage in child-focused activities – like playing outdoors and participating in school events.
• When you have coverage, it’s more likely that your eligible children will get covered too.
• Your covered children are more likely to get the preventive services they need.

Medicaid coverage helped Catherine from West Virginia

Catherine Selen is a West Virginia mother of two young children who recently enrolled in Medicaid coverage. She struggled with diabetes and knows the benefits of the Medicaid program first-hand. Before enrolling in 2013, she was hospitalized twice and ended up in the ICU after going without insulin for two days.

“Being uninsured is bad enough, but when you have a life-threatening illness… and also to be a mother… it’s really scary. My kids have seen me sick and I want something better for them – I don't want them to remember me that way. Now, with Medicaid, I can get the medicine I need.” - Catherine Selen

Back to work and back to her kids

Catherine is back to work. She loves her job as a waitress because she can manage her bills and also arrange time to visit her son’s school and be active in its parent teacher organization. That’s a big plus for both Catherine and her children!

So, if you know a mom who needs coverage – for herself or her family – let her know about Medicaid and CHIP. Getting health coverage for her kids is the kind of present every mom loves, and not just on Mother’s Day. Enrollment is open all year long, so why wait?

Learn more about how to enroll in Medicaid and CHIP. You can also visit your state Medicaid agency’s website or call 1-877-KIDS-NOW (1-877-543-7669).