Youth who were in foster care under the responsibility of the State of Missouri on the date they attained the age of eighteen (18) years, or at any time during the thirty-day (30-day) period preceding their 18th birthday, are eligible for Medicaid coverage without regard to their income or assets, if such persons:

1. Are under twenty-six (26) years of age;
2. Are not eligible for coverage under another mandatory coverage group (Example: MO HealthNet for Pregnant Women, MO HealthNet for the Aged, Blind, or Disabled, MO HealthNet for Families, etc.) This group includes youth who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or are receiving Medicare; and
3. Were covered by Medicaid while they were in foster care, per RSMo 208.151.1. 

The youth’s most current address must be entered in FACES on the Health Care for Former Foster Care Youth screen in order for it to cross over to MO HealthNet Division’s (MHD) system where eligibility will show.  The youth may be enrolled into a Managed Care plan for their physical, vision and dental health care needs.  Their behavioral health care and pharmacy needs will be covered by MO HealthNet Fee-for-Service (“straight Medicaid”).   The youth can enroll in a managed care plan, or change their managed care plan, by calling the MO HealthNet Enrollment Broker Helpline at 1-800-348-6627.

For youth who are Missouri residents but are attending an out-of-state school or on a visit outside of Missouri, the out-of-state provider must be willing to enroll in the MO HealthNet program for services to be covered.  Per federal requirements, Medicaid cannot be opened in two states at the same time.

When a youth exits CD custody, the case manager will close the Alternative Care Client case in FACES, in order to capture the exit data in our information system.  Upon closing, the system will automatically calculate eligibility and open the Health Care for Former Foster Care Youth coverage the following day, if eligible. Staff should enter the youth’s current address once this occurs.

Eligible youth receiving MO HealthNet services through Family Support Division (FSD) will continue with their current health care coverage.  If the youth receiving FSD coverage becomes ineligible for health care through FSD, FSD will close its coverage and the Health Care for Former Foster Care Youth coverage will automatically open.

If the former foster care youth already has health insurance or obtains health insurance from another source such as employment, this private or commercial insurance becomes primary and MO HealthNet will serve as secondary coverage.

Youth living in Missouri who exited foster care in any other state are eligible for the Health Care for Former Foster Care coverage to age 26 if they:

1. Exited foster care in another state at the age of 18 or later, and are not yet 26;
2. Have documentation from the state they exited foster care verifying they were in foster care and receiving Medicaid coverage at the age of 18; and
3. Are determined ineligible for other mandatory coverage through FSD, such as MO HealthNet for Pregnant Women, MO HealthNet for the Aged, Blind or Disabled, etc.

The Family Support Division determines eligibility for youth living in Missouri but who exited foster care in another state. Whether a former foster care youth makes contact with a county office and asks about the extended coverage, or staff otherwise learn a former foster care youth from out-of-state is under age 26 and is uninsured, staff should refer the individual to the designated Older Youth Transition Specialist (OYTS) for that region. Provide the OYTS the youth’s name, date of birth, current address, phone number and email. The OYTS will contact the youth to gather additional information before referring the youth to designated Family Support Division staff for eligibility determination.