Nebraska Medicaid ProgramKids ConnectionFrequently Asked Questions
Where can I apply for Kids Connection?
Can I take my mail-in application form to the Department of Health and Human Services local office? Yes, you may deliver your completed mail-in application to the local DHHS office serving your area. Public schools only distribute the applications. You should mail your completed application to P.O. Box 94926, Lincoln, NE 68509-4926 unless your child’s school specifically asked that you return the application to the school. If your children are determined eligible, you will receive a notice advising you of their eligibility, and, you will receive a letter each month listing all of the individuals in your household eligible for Medicaid/Kids Connection. This will be your Kids Connection or Medicaid eligibility card for your children and/or family. Since I’m self-employed, what type of income information should I attach?
What pay stubs do I need to send in? You should include pay-stubs for the previous month or most recent four-week period with your completed application. If you have no income, you should send a statement with your application that explains your situation or how you pay your bills. You should ask your employer to write a letter declaring what your monthly gross income will be and submit a copy of that letter. I just had a cutback in hours so my recent pay stub is not accurate. What should I do? Attach a note with your application explaining that your hours have been cutback and submit a copy of a pay stub(s), which is a more accurate reflection of what your normal pay would be. Proof of one month of your income is required to complete the eligibility determination. I don’t get a pay stub with my paycheck. How do I show my monthly income? You should ask your employer to write a letter declaring what your monthly gross income will be and submit a copy of that letter Do I include my 18-year old that is at college on the application? Yes, until (s) he turns 19 years of age. Do I include my 18-year old’s job income in my family income? If your 18-year old child attends school, do not include the child's earned income when applying for Kids Connection. Can my kids have health insurance and be in Kids Connection too? Some children may have certain types of health insurance and still qualify for Kids Connection. We encourage you to apply for your children, as you will only know for sure if we review your completed application. (Keep in mind that Kids Connection is not concerned if a parent has health insurance. We are only concerned with a child’s coverage.) My children are already on Medicaid. Is this program better? Since Kids Connection is an expansion of the Nebraska Medicaid Program, the same services are offered. If a child is already participating in the Medicaid Program, and 18 years of age or less, they are automatically in Kids Connection. What is the premium for Kids Connection? There is no premium for Kids Connection coverage. There are no co-payments for children with Kids Connection/Medicaid coverage. How long is approved eligibility good for? Six months, or until a child turns 19 years of age or moves out of the state. This is referred to as "six-month continuous eligibility." What happens when the six-month continuous eligibility period ends? As the end of the six-month period nears, you will be contacted through the mail asking if you wish to apply for an additional six-month period for your children. You will need to complete a short review form and provide verification of any reported changes and wage stubs for the previous three months What services does Kids Connection offer? Kids Connection, or Medicaid, covers most medical expenditures. Your medical provider should know or can find out. You cannot just "sign-up" for these two services. However, even with health insurance on your children, you may still qualify for this program. In that instance, for covered services, your insurance company will pay for the amount they owe first, and Kids Connection or Medicaid will pay for the remainder. Does Kids Connection cover high school athletic physicals? Yes, if a Nebraska Medicaid provider does the physical. Kids Connection does cover accidents. However, the school’s officials would make a determination as to whether Kids Connection eligibility meets your school’s accident insurance coverage requirements. How long must my child be a resident of Nebraska before I am eligible for Kids Connection? There is no waiting period to gain residency, but you must intend to make Nebraska your child’s home. Generally, you are not required to provide this verification. What are the citizenship requirements for eligibility for Kids Connection? The children applying for Kids Connection or Medicaid must be citizens of the United States or in the United States as Legal Permanent Residents and certain other categories of aliens (parolees, asylees, refugees, etc.). This does not apply to the parents or guardians of the child unless they themselves are applying for benefits. How can I show that I am a U.S. citizen? A birth certificate is a good way to verify citizenship. Immigration documents can also be used. How can I show that I am a Nebraska resident? Generally, you are not required to provide this verification. Department of Health and Human Services staff will ask you for particular documents if this verification is needed. Neither Kids Connection nor Medicaid regulations require DHHS office visits or interviews as part of the eligibility process. Much of the information DHHS may need in the way of verification may be supplied through the U.S. mail. However, in some instances, it may be easier to call the Lincoln application review site or stop in the local DHHS office. How soon will my mail-in application be processed? Mail-in applications, like applications for other DHHS programs, are processed as quickly as reasonably possible. One item that can delay processing is not filling it out completely, or not supplying required supporting documentation. Will it be quicker for me to use the mail-in application or by going to the DHHS office? It is difficult to tell. It depends upon the workload at the local office and at the Central Entry Site where some of the mail-in applications are initially processed. It should be noted that one advantage to applying directly through a DHHS local office is that you will be asked at the time of application if you are interested in also applying for other programs, such as assistance with food or rent The mail-in application is a single-program application, for Kids Connection/Medicaid. If parents or guardians decide to drop current health insurance on their children and apply for Kids Connection, there is no waiting period in Nebraska. Before dropping commercial health insurance, parents should think of all of the ramifications of doing so. This may determine whether you will be able to get your children back on a commercial policy in future years if need be. A pre-existing condition or some other reason may limit this option. Are there pre-existing condition restrictions affiliated with Kids Connection? There are no pre-existing condition restrictions for someone enrolling in Kids Connection. Is the child support I receive counted as income? Yes, received child support is counted as unearned income. Is the alimony I receive counted as income? Yes, received alimony is counted as unearned income. The last three months of child support is averaged and included in the eligibility determination. Are state or local government employees eligible for Kids Connection? The same rules of eligibility for Kids Connection apply to state and local government employees as they do to those not employed by government. Where can I obtain a Kids Connection mail-in application? Kids Connection mail-in applications are available at hundreds of locations throughout Nebraska. Your local Department of Health and Human Services Office will have a copy available, or, you may call Kids Connection toll-free at 1-877-NEB-KIDS (1-877-632-5437) or (402) 471-8845 to request an application. Or you may print one from this web sitewww.dhhs.ne.gov/med/kidsconx.htm If the health insurance coverage is comprehensive in nature (credible coverage) they will likely not be eligible for Kids Connection. However, they may be eligible for the regular Medicaid program. You are encouraged to apply by completing the mail-in application or by contacting your local DHHS office. Are mental health services covered? Yes, mental health services including counseling are a coverable benefit. 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