Life and Health Insurance Policies

Can you cover kids on a health insurance policy that aren't yours?

Can I add my boyfriend's kids onto my Medicaid policy? He is not on the policy and we are not married. But their mother lost her benefits and now they have no health insurance. Can I just add them to my Medicaid or do I have to be married to their father? What do I do about the child support questions?

Public Comments

1. I'm not sure if medicaid has different rules, but generally, there's no problem with that. I would call them to double check though.
2. You cannot add kids that are not yours, to your policy. Their mother or father - whoever has custody - needs to be applying to the state children's health insurance program for coverage for them. Marrying the father, does NOT automatically get him - or them - on your Medicaid. You have to keep requalifying for welfare health insurance. As these aren't your children, you don't get support for them or pay support for them, so I don't know what the child support questions actually ARE.
3. You cannot apply to have the kids added to your Medicaid because they are not yours. As already mentioned, the custodial parent must apply with the state if they feel that the kids qualify for Medicaid. Either parent could also visit a local agent that works with all of the major companies to find out what individual plans are available and at what premium. Many doctors do not accept Medicaid so if they have been going to a doctor and they don't want to change a private plan would be much better for them.