What is Split Application Medicaid: It is a type of Medicaid for a child with a disability. It may be available to a child with a disability, despite their parents’ financial ineligibility, so long as the child has a sibling who does not have a disability. How does Split Application Medicaid work: Medicaid usually deems the parents’ income to each child so the child is considered to have the same income as the parent. If the parents earn more income than allowed under Medicaid, then the child would not be eligible on its own. When applying for Split Application Medicaid, parental income is only deemed to the child without a disability. As a result, the child with a disability may meet the income eligibility requirements for Medicaid and receive health coverage under NJ FamilyCare so long as the child does not have income of its own that exceeds Medicaid’s limits. How to apply for Split Application Medicaid: To apply, contact your local Board of Social Services. Explain that you have a child with a disability and a child without a disability and that you want to apply for a companion case or make a split application. Please be aware that some intake workers are not familiar with this type of Medicaid. You can always ask to speak to a supervisor if the intake worker is unsure about how to handle your application. If still having difficulty, you should call your county’s Special Child Health Services. Once you submit the application, the Division of Medical Assistance and Health Standards will review your child’s disability to determine whether it meets Social Security’s disability standards.
