MassHealth for a Grandchild Living With a Grandparent in Massachusetts

You Can Enroll the Child in MassHealth

If you are a grandparent or relative raising a child in Massachusetts, the child can qualify for MassHealth even though you are not the legal parent. You do not need a court order. A valid Caregiver Authorization Affidavit under M.G.L. c. 201F authorizes you to complete and sign MassHealth applications on the child's behalf.

The important detail: eligibility for child-only MassHealth coverage is calculated based on the child's own income and assets, not yours. A child with little or no income may qualify, but eligibility depends on the child's financial circumstances and MassHealth's rules. Your wages, Social Security benefits, or pension are not counted.

How to Apply

Gather the child's basic information — date of birth, Social Security number if available, and any documentation of their living situation. You will need your executed Caregiver Authorization Affidavit and your photo ID.

Use MassHealth's current application instructions for submission options. A valid caregiver affidavit authorizes you to sign application documents on the child's behalf, and eligibility focuses on the child's financial status rather than your personal income and assets.

If the child was already enrolled in MassHealth at a previous address, contact MassHealth to confirm whether an address update is enough.

Accessing the Child's Medical Records

Under M.G.L. c. 201F, Section 3, a caregiver with a valid affidavit has the legal right to request, inspect, and obtain copies of the child's medical, dental, and insurance records. For HIPAA purposes, you function as the child's personal representative — clinicians and hospitals can share protected health information with you, release billing records, and grant patient portal access.

If a teenager has independently consented to treatment under a rule that applies to that service, the provider cannot release records of that treatment to you without the minor's written authorization. This includes substance use treatment and certain mental-health care in specific settings.

The Children's Medical Security Plan

The Children's Medical Security Plan (CMSP) is another program for children's health coverage. A relative caregiver may complete and sign a CMSP application on the child's behalf; check CMSP's current eligibility and coverage rules before applying.

Why This Matters on Day One

Health insurance is one of the first practical problems a new kinship caregiver faces. A child arrives, and they need to see a doctor. Without insurance, the costs pile up. Getting MassHealth in place — using the affidavit to sign the application and the child's own income for eligibility — removes a major financial barrier.

The Massachusetts School and Medical Consent Guide includes the MassHealth enrollment steps alongside first-appointment preparation, prescription pickup protocols, and the full scope of medical consent authority under the affidavit.

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