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Support for
Pennsylvania
Adoptive & Foster Families

OCYF Bulletin 3140-99-01
Adoption Assistance Questions
Medical Assistance Issues

40. If a family has private medical insurance and adopts a child, must the family add the adopted child to their medical insurance policy?

The agency should advise the parents of their responsibility to add the child to their employer paid health insurance. The child may also have a medical assistance card to cover those costs that are not fully or partially covered by the private insurance. Note that neither adoption assistance nor medical assistance regulations require that parents add the child to their health insurance coverage.

41. Can a child who was receiving adoption assistance, for whom the assistance was terminated upon the child reaching 18 years of age, continue to receive a medical assistance card if the child is still enrolled in school? Is this the same for both the state and federal medical assistance card?

No. All benefits through the adoption assistance program end when the child reaches 18 years of age. The family may assist the 18-year-old in accessing other available medical benefits, which may include medical assistance, SSI or private medical insurance benefits.

42. After an adoption is finalized, can the adoptive family "spend down" to qualify for the child's Medical Assistance coverage?

The family income or resources have nothing to do with the child's eligibility for Medical Assistance.

Together as Adoptive Parents, Inc.
478 Moyer Road,
Harleysville, PA 19438
Phone (215) 256-0669 Fax (215) 513-2921