All Medicaid Programs |
Obsolete Policy |
Contact DWS Program Specialist for previous policy
Individuals aging out of the Utah state foster care system can receive Medicaid from age 18 until age 21 under the Foster Care Independent Living program. These youth must meet the following criteria:
18 years old but not 21 (eligibility runs through the month in which they turn 21)
In foster care on their 18th birthday under state custody through the Division of Child and Family Services, or the Department of Human Services if the primary case manager was with the Division of Child and Family Services, or in the custody of an Indian tribe
Not eligible for another Medicaid program that does not require a spenddown or premium payment. (Eligibility under another program may end before the child is 21, like Child Age 6-18, so the worker needs to move the client to the Foster Care Independent Living program when the child ages off the other programs.)
Is identified by DCFS, DHS or a tribe through electronic or written verification as someone who was in foster care on his or her 18th birthday
Was not in the custody of the Division of Juvenile Justice Services on his or her 18th birthday
An individual may apply for Medicaid on his own using any of the approved application methods described in section 703-1. Confirm that the applicant was in DCFS or tribal foster care on his or her 18th birthday.
(See Procedure)
Eligibility under this group does not have to start in the month the child turns 18. If the client was in foster care upon turning 18 and meets the above criteria, eligibility can begin any month after reaching 18. Some foster care youth will remain in regular foster care past their 18th birthday, and may become eligible for the Foster Care Independent Living program sometime later.
Clients can receive retroactive eligibility based on the date of application, if the client meets the above criteria for the retroactive months.
The client must sign the review form or an application to complete Assignment of Rights requirements, the TPL requirements, and to acknowledge that the client has received the information about Medicaid requirements.
Clients with a minor child living with them who receives Medicaid are required to cooperate with Medical Support enforcement unless they can show good cause for not cooperating. The eligibility agency must verify U.S. citizenship or qualified alien status, and identity if that is not already in the case file. (See sec. 205)
Determine whether the client is eligible for any other Medicaid program. For example, Child Age 6-18 for those under age 19, Disabled Medicaid for those receiving SSI or disability payments, etc.
If the client is not eligible for another Medicaid program or would have to pay a spenddown or premium, open the client for the Foster Care Independent Living program. Emergency Medicaid is available if the client does not meet qualified alien status; however, open the case for only one or two months and then close it.
There is no income or resource test to determine eligibility. Review the case at least annually. Eligibility lasts through the month in which the client turns age 21. When the client is about to turn 21, redetermine eligibility under any other Medicaid program and take appropriate actions based on your redetermination.
See Eligibility Procedure