What to Do When Your Child Loses Health Coverage

Your child's coverage can end suddenly, and the first step is understanding why

When a child's health coverage stops, it usually happens for one of a few specific reasons: a parent's job ended, household income changed, a parent's employer plan was cancelled, or a program like Medicaid or CHIP determined the child no longer met the requirements. The reason matters because it determines what you can do next and how quickly you need to act.

The most important thing to know is that losing coverage does not mean your child cannot get care. Many programs have rules that let you keep coverage temporarily, restart it, or move to a different program without a waiting period. But you have to take action — coverage does not restart on its own, and delays can leave you with medical bills you did not expect.

Key Takeaways

• If your child lost coverage because of a job loss, divorce, or household change, you may have 60 days to switch to a new plan without waiting periods through a process called a may have access to life event.
• Medicaid and CHIP coverage can sometimes be extended for a few months even after your child is no longer technically may be able to access, so contact your state program before assuming coverage has ended.
• If you cannot find coverage immediately, your child can still see a doctor — many clinics and hospitals have programs for uninsured children, and you can ask about payment plans.
• The fastest way to find out what programs your child may be able to join is to call 211 or visit your state's Medicaid office, not to search online.

Why coverage ended and what that means for your next step

Coverage ends for different reasons, and each one opens different doors. If your child was on your employer plan and you lost your job, were laid off, or had your hours cut, you likely may have access to for COBRA — a federal law that lets you keep the same plan for up to 18 months, though you pay the full premium yourself. You have 60 days from the date coverage would have ended to choose COBRA, so contact your former employer's benefits office right away to ask for the COBRA notice.

If your child was on Medicaid or CHIP and you received a notice that coverage ended, read the notice carefully. It will say why — usually because reported income was too high, or because you did not return a form the program sent. Many states allow you to keep coverage for a grace period even after you get a termination notice, especially if the reason was a paperwork mistake. Call your state's Medicaid office or CHIP program immediately; do not wait for the coverage end date to pass.

If your child's coverage ended because of a life change — you got divorced, moved to a new state, or your household size changed — you may may have access to for what is called a may have access to life event. This means you can enroll in a new plan outside the normal open enrollment period, usually within 60 days of the change. Your new plan cannot have a waiting period or exclude pre-existing conditions.

How to find out what programs your child can join right now

The fastest way is to call 211 and tell them your child lost coverage and your household income. They will tell you in one call whether your child qualifies for Medicaid, CHIP, or a marketplace plan, and they can often start the process for you. You can also go directly to your state's Medicaid office — search "[your state] Medicaid" — or to Healthcare.gov if you think you need a marketplace plan.

When you contact any program, have these documents ready: your child's Social Security number, proof of your household income (a recent pay stub or tax return), and proof of where you live (a utility bill or lease). If your child was recently on Medicaid or CHIP, have that notice too — it shows what the program already knows about your family.

Medicaid and CHIP move at different speeds depending on your state. Some states process applications in a few days; others take two to three weeks. If your child needs to see a doctor before coverage is approved, tell the doctor's office that you have an application pending. Many offices will see a child anyway and bill the program retroactively once coverage is approved.

What to do if you cannot find coverage right away

If your child is uninsured while you wait for a new program to approve coverage, your child can still get care. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale based on what you earn, which often means little or no cost for uninsured families. You can find one near you by searching "HRSA Find a Health Center" or by calling 211.

If your child needs urgent care or goes to an emergency room, tell the hospital or clinic that you are uninsured and ask about their financial assistance program. Most hospitals are required by law to have one, and many will reduce or forgive the bill for families below a certain income. Ask about this before your child is treated, not after.

If your child takes prescription medications, ask the doctor whether a generic version is available, or whether the drug manufacturer offers a free or low-cost program. Many do, and the doctor's office can help you apply. Do not skip doses to save money — tell your doctor about the cost instead.

If your child was on Medicaid or CHIP and you think the coverage end was a mistake

Medicaid and CHIP programs sometimes send termination notices by mail, and the mail gets lost, or the notice goes to an old address. If you did not receive a notice but your child's coverage stopped, contact your state program immediately and ask why. You may be able to restart coverage retroactively.

If you received a notice but disagree with the reason — for example, you think your income was reported wrong, or you returned a form but the program says you did not — you have the right to appeal. The notice itself will say how to appeal and what deadline you have, usually 30 to 60 days. You do not have to wait for the appeal to be decided to reapply; you can apply for coverage again while the appeal is pending.

Some states have a process called continuous enrollment for children, which means once a child is on Medicaid or CHIP, the program cannot end coverage without sending a notice and giving you a chance to respond. If your state has this rule and your child was terminated without notice, you may be able to get coverage reinstated. Call your state program and ask whether continuous enrollment applies to your child.

Keeping track of your child's coverage going forward

Once your child has new coverage, mark the renewal date on a calendar. Medicaid and CHIP coverage usually lasts 12 months, and you will need to renew it or your child will lose coverage again. Many programs now send renewal notices by email as well as mail, so update your contact information with the program and ask to receive notices by email.

If your income or household changes during the year, report it to the program right away. You do not have to wait for the renewal date. Changes like a new job, a move, or a new family member can affect whether your child stays on the same program or moves to a different one, but reporting early means there is no gap in coverage.

Keep copies of any notices the program sends you, even if they seem routine. If coverage ends again, these notices help you and the program figure out what happened and how to fix it quickly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can my child see a doctor while I am waiting for new coverage to be approved?

Yes. Community health centers will see uninsured children and charge based on what you earn. You can also ask your child's regular doctor whether they will see your child while coverage is pending and bill the new program once it is approved. Many do. If your child needs emergency care, go to the emergency room — hospitals cannot refuse care because a child is uninsured.

What if I lost my job and my child was on my employer plan?

You likely may have access to for COBRA, which lets you keep the same plan for up to 18 months. You have 60 days from the date coverage ends to choose COBRA. Contact your former employer's benefits office for the COBRA notice. While you are waiting, also check whether your child qualifies for Medicaid or CHIP, which may be cheaper than COBRA.

My child's Medicaid coverage ended but I did not get a notice. What do I do?

Call your state's Medicaid office right away and ask why coverage ended. You may be able to restart it retroactively, especially if the termination was a mistake or if your state has continuous enrollment rules for children. Have your child's Medicaid number ready when you call.

How long does it take to get approved for a new program?

It varies by state and program. Medicaid can take anywhere from a few days to three weeks. CHIP is often faster. Marketplace plans through Healthcare.gov can take one to two weeks. If your child needs care before approval, tell the provider that an application is pending — many will see your child and bill the program once coverage starts.

What if my child needs medication but I cannot afford it while uninsured?

Ask your child's doctor whether a generic version is available or whether the drug manufacturer has a free or low-cost program. Many do. Do not skip doses to save money — tell your doctor about the cost instead, and they can often find an option that works for your budget.