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MEDICAID AND CHIP GIVE PARENTS PEACE OF MIND IF CHILDREN/TEENS ARE SICK OR GET INJURED ENROLLMENT IS AVAILABLE YEAR-ROUND

Calder Lynch

Deputy Administrator & Director, Center for Medicaid & CHIP Services within the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

Millions of children in the United States don’t have health coverage. As a result, it may be difficult or impossible for them to access the care they need if they get sick or injured. But, the majority of the nation’s uninsured children up to age 19 are eligible for free or low-cost health coverage through Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) offered in their state. With Medicaid and CHIP, parents get the peace of mind that comes with knowing their children can get preventive health care to stay healthy. Parents can rest easier knowing medical bills won’t jeopardize the family’s financial security. They can apply for the comprehensive benefits these programs provide at any time of the year. This includes doctor’s appointments, hospital visits, prescriptions, immunizations, dental visits, mental health services and more. Parents may also be eligible for Medicaid, even if they have applied in the past.

In most states, children may be eligible for either Medicaid or CHIP if their family income is up to $50,000* (for a family of 4). In many states, family income can be even higher and children can still qualify.

Additional information is available by visiting the

“Find Coverage for Your Family” map on InsureKidsNow.gov

or by calling 1-877-KIDS-NOW (1-877-543-7669).

MORE ABOUT CALDER LYNCH:

In May 2019, Calder Lynch was appointed Acting Deputy Administrator and Director of the Center for Medicaid & CHIP Services, where he serves as the agency’s senior executive overseeing the Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Programs, which cover some 72 million Americans. Calder began his career at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services in May 2017, when he was named the Senior Counselor to the Administrator.

Prior to his federal service, he was the Nebraska state Medicaid director under Governor Pete Ricketts. In that capacity, he oversaw the division responsible for the state unit on aging and the provision of health coverage to nearly 240,000 Nebraskans. During his time in Nebraska, Calder led the development and implementation of the state’s integrated managed care program, Heritage Health.

Prior to his work in Nebraska, Calder served as the Chief of Staff to the Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals. A Louisiana native, Calder earned his degree in Business Administration from Louisiana State University and his Masters in Health Administration (MSHA) from the University of Alabama-Birmingham (UAB).