Children's Health Care
Legal Information
This section of PALawHelp.org has information and resources about Children's Health Care issues in Pennsylvania.
Click on a resource category listed below to see information related to that category.
PA Health Law Project Toll-Free Helpline - Call: 1-800-274-3258
The PA Health Law Project provides free legal services and advocacy to Pennsylvanians having trouble accessing publicly funded health care coverage or services. For assistance, call the PHLP Helpline at 1-800-274-3258 or 1-866-236-6310 TTY or e-mail the PHLP at staff@phlp.org. Information from the PHLP is also available online at www.phlp.org.
COMPASS - Apply for Public Benefits and Services from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania residents can apply for a variety of programs offered by the PA Department of Human Services, including public assistance, food stamps, health care coverage, energy assistance and other social service programs at this site
Benefits.gov
Benefits.gov is the official benefits website of the U.S. government whose mission is to increase citizen access to benefit information, while reducing the expense and difficulty of interacting with the government. It is a free, online confidential tool that helps you find government benefits you may be eligible to receive.
Pennie - Pennsylvania's Health Care Marketplace
Pennie provides information on health care coverage available and how to sign up. All Pennsylvanians can search and choose coverage from November to January 15. After January 15th, folks who experience a Qualifying Life Event are still eligible to apply for financial assistance and shop for health insurance. Visit their website to learn more on qualifying life events.
PA Health Law Project Toll-Free Helpline - Call: 1-800-274-3258
The PA Health Law Project provides free legal services and advocacy to Pennsylvanians having trouble accessing publicly funded health care coverage or services. For assistance, call the PHLP Helpline at 1-800-274-3258 or 1-866-236-6310 TTY or e-mail the PHLP at staff@phlp.org. Information from the PHLP is also available online at www.phlp.org.
Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
Resources from the Pennsylvania Health Law Project on the Pennsylvania Children's Health Insurance Program.
Getting Medical Assistance for a Child (under 18) with a Severe Disability, Behavioral or Autism Spectrum Disorder
Information special rules on whether a child with a Severe Disability, Behavioral or Autism Spectrum Disorder qualifies for Medical Assistance and how to establish eligibility.
Understanding "Wraparound" Services for Children in HealthChoices
Information from the Pennsylvania Health Law Project on "Wraparound" Services, also referred to as Behavioral Health Rehabilitative Services, for Children from your Behavioral Health Managed Care Organization. These are individualized mental health services provided in the home, school, or community to help keep a child at home. [PDF]
Tips For Effective Advocacy in Getting or Keeping Behavioral Health Services for Your Child
Tips from the Pennsylvania Health Law Project on how to be a good advocate in working to secure Behavioral Health Services for your child. [PDF]
Getting Care under Medical Assistance
Information from the Pennsylvania Health Law Project on obtaining health care for your children through the Medical Assistance program.
The Many Doors to Consumer Empowerment - A Guide to Advocacy for Mental Health Consumers in Pennsylvania
This guide was created by the Pennsylvania Health Law Project to help people in Pennsylvania who are dealing with mental illness learn about the mental health system and when, where, and how you can shape it -- if you choose to. [PDF]
Health Care in Foster Care and When You Age Out
Fact sheet from the Youth Justice Project providing information on the right to health care for children and youths in foster care. [PDF]
How to Obtain Mental Health and Drug & Alcohol Services in Pennsylvania
Booklet from the Pennsylvania Health Law Project explaining how to obtain Mental Health Services and Drug & Alcohol Services under various programs in Pennsylvania. [PDF]
Disabled Adult Child (DAC) Medical Assistance Benefits
People who get Supplemental Security Income (SSI) are automatically approved for Medical Assistance in Pennsylvania. Learn about special circumstances that allow people to keep getting Medical Assistance after their SSI benefits end.
Getting Care under Medical Assistance - A Guide for Parents and Families
f your child is new to Medical Assistance (MA), here is some information about the program you need to know.
Health Law: COVID-19 Federal and State Updates
The Pennsylvania Health Law Project (PHLP) is monitoring the impact of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and posting information to ensure that those with Medical Assistance (MA) and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage have services, and to securing insurance coverage for the uninsured.
Impact of COVID-19 Stimulus Payments and Pandemic Unemployment Benefits on Health Insurance Eligibility
Summary of the new COVID-19 economic benefits and information on whether and how they impact eligibility for Medicaid, CHIP and subsidized Marketplace insurance.
2022 Income and Resource Limits for Medicaid and Other Health Programs
Information on income and resource limits for Medical Assistance for 2022 provided by the PA Health Law Project.
Medical Assistance Managed Care in Pennsylvania - A Guide to Pennsylvania’s HealthChoices Program for Families
This brochure explains the basics of Medical Assistance (MA) Physical Health coverage for children in Pennsylvania through the HealthChoices Program.
Reporting Parental Income for Medical Assistance for Children with Disabilities - Frequently Asked Questions
Information on requirements for reporting income of parents of children receiving Medical Assistance due to a disability - PH 95
Reproductive Health
Fact sheet from the Youth Justice Project on issues relating to reproductive health including birth control, disease prevention and contraception; pregnancy and teen parenting; counseling; adoption; and abortion.
Understanding “Wraparound” Services for Children in HealthChoices
This guide is about how to obtain services for children through the Behavioral Health Managed Care Organization.
Young Parents and Welfare Benefits
Fact sheet from the Youth Justice Project providing information about the types of benefits that might be available to young parents and pregnant teens.
COMPASS - Apply for Public Benefits and Services from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania residents can apply for a variety of programs offered by the PA Department of Human Services, including public assistance, food stamps, health care coverage, energy assistance and other social service programs at this site
CHIP - Pennsylvania's Children's Health Insurance Programs
CHIP Program website. CHIP is Pennsylvania's program to provide quality health insurance for children of working families who otherwise could not afford it.
Insure Kids Now! (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)
Information from InsureKidsNow.gov, a website sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, on children's health insurance programs offered by states.
Benefits For Children With Disabilities
This booklet from the Social Security Administration is written primarily for the parents and caregivers of children with disabilities and adults disabled since childhood. It illustrates the kinds of Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits a child with a disability might be eligible for and explains how SSA evaluates disability claims for children. [PDF]
Benefit Publications from the Social Security Administration
Large collection of publications providing information on the various programs such as: disability benefits, appeal process, benefits for people with HIV, how workmans' compensation can affect your disability benefits, children with disabilities, info on receiving your payments, benefits for those who are blind or have low vision, details on ticket to work incentives, info on working while disabled, retirement benefits, government pension offset, medicare, windfall provision, survivors benefits, SSI, SSI for non-citizens, food stamps and other nutrition progams, protecting your on social security numbers, and more. Many publications available in Spanish.
Coverage for Young Adults
Information from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on the Affordable Care Act provisions that allow young adults to stay on their parents' health care plan until age 26.
Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment
The Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment (EPSDT) benefit provides comprehensive and preventive health care services for children under age 21 who are enrolled in Medicaid. EPSDT is key to ensuring that children and adolescents receive appropriate preventive, dental, mental health, and developmental, and specialty services.
Medical (Health Care) Support in Support Orders
Information from the Pennsylvania Child Support Handbook on how to obtain health care coverage for children from a non-custodial parent in a support order.
Pennie - Pennsylvania's Health Care Marketplace
Pennie provides information on health care coverage available and how to sign up. All Pennsylvanians can search and choose coverage from November to January 15. After January 15th, folks who experience a Qualifying Life Event are still eligible to apply for financial assistance and shop for health insurance. Visit their website to learn more on qualifying life events.
Pennsylvania Health Care Facilities Search
Search aid from the Pennsylvania Department of Health to help you locate health facilities in Pennsylvania.
The Affordable Care Act's New Patient's Bill of Rights
Information from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on the new Patient's Bill of Rights under the Affordable Care Act which will help children (and eventually all Americans) with pre-existing conditions gain coverage and keep it, protect all American's choice of doctors, and end lifetime limits on the care consumers may receive. These new protections apply to nearly all health insurance plans
Facts About Federal Funding for States to Provide Health Coverage to Immigrant Children and Pregnant Women
Information on Children?s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 (CHIPRA), providng a new opportunity to provide affordable health coverage to many immigrant children and pregnant women through Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). (August 2010)