Medicaid for Kids with Special Needs

Medicaid for Kids with Special Needs (MKSN) helps pay medical bills for children with special needs due to a disability. This program gives you health coverage through a Managed Care Organization (MCO) that you get to choose.

Eligibility

Your child must be:

• Under the age of 19
• Disabled. The disability must meet the standards of the Social Security Administration.
• Income eligible. Your family income must be no more than 300% of the federal poverty level for your family size.
• A U.S. citizen.

“Family” includes the MKSN child and family members who live with the MKSN child and who are not on full Medicaid under another case. Family members include: 

• The parents of the MKSN unmarried child, including stepparents.
• All siblings under 19 and unmarried.
• Any children of the MKSN child.
• The spouse of the MKSN child.

Income Limits & Guidelines

Follow SSI-related income policy to determine income. If the MKSN child is married, the parents’ income is not counted. 2025 Monthly income limits are:

Additional Insurance & MKSN

• If your child has other health insurance, you must pay the premiums and keep your child covered for as long as your employer pays at least half of the premium cost.
• If your child does not have other health insurance but you can get health insurance from your employer and if your employer pays at least half of the premium cost, then you must enroll your child in the employer insurance plan.
• If your employer does not pay at least half of the insurance premium cost, then you are not required to enroll your child.

How to Apply

To find out if your child is eligible for MKSN, you must fill out a Medicaid application and send it to your local Health and Human Services (HHS) office. 

The application may be mailed, faxed or delivered to the HHS office. For further information on how to apply, visit our How to Apply page.