April 10, 2020:
Children's Health Insurance Program Notice
In response to the current public health emergency, the Pennsylvania Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) is making temporary changes to its program requirements. These changes are designed to ease access to CHIP and to keep families enrolled in CHIP for the duration of the public health emergency. The following changes are in effect until the end of the public health emergency:
• Families will not be denied or disenrolled from coverage for administrative or financial reasons. An example of an administrative reason is not being able to provide proof of income.
• Families who cannot provide paperwork to verify information on an application or renewal can provide self-attestation of information by signing the application or renewal. Self-attestation is done when a family completes and signs an application or renewal, or provides another signed statement that confirms the information provided is true and correct. Electronic or handwritten signatures are acceptable.
• Families will not pay a copay for services that are for COVID-19 screening, testing, or treatment.
• Families will be given more time to pay premiums, if needed.
The following program requirements are still effective:
• Families still must provide verification of information presented on an application. At the end of the public health emergency, families will be required to provide verification of information presented (or attested to) on applications or renewals if requested.
• Families are still responsible for copays for services not related to COVID-19.
• Families are still responsible to pay premiums, if applicable. If a family is unable to pay premiums because of a decrease or loss of income, the family must contact UPMC for Kids immediately.
• A family can request UPMC for Kids to perform a “reassessment” because of an income change at any time.
What Do These Changes Mean to You
If you are receiving a request for information, you must still do your best to provide the information to UPMC for Kids as requested. You will not be disenrolled from CHIP during the public health emergency for not providing the information, but you will be required to provide it as soon as possible. You must also provide either a signed application, signed renewal, or a statement that is signed which attests that the information you are providing is true and correct to the best of your knowledge. Signatures can be electronic or handwritten. You may be asked to provide documentation of information that you self-attested to at the end of the public health emergency.
If you are receiving a request for premium, you still must pay the premium. If you cannot pay the premium on time because your income has decreased or you’ve lost employment, please contact UPMC for Kids immediately.
If you did not provide information about your child or children’s date of birth, Social Security number, or tax filing status on an application, you must contact UPMC for Kids right away and provide that information. Your application cannot be processed without that information.
If you have any questions about your responsibilities, please contact our UPMC for Kids Health Care Concierge team at 1-800-650-8762. TTY users, please call 711. We are available Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.