Wyoming Kid Care CHIP and Medicaid for Kinship Caregivers

Two Programs, One Application

Wyoming runs two main health coverage programs for children through the Department of Health: Child MAGI Medicaid (comprehensive, zero-cost) and Kid Care CHIP (low-cost with small copays on non-preventive services). Which one the child qualifies for depends on their age and the applicable household income, measured against the Federal Poverty Level.

For children ages 0 through 5, Medicaid covers up to 154% FPL. For children ages 6 through 18, the Medicaid ceiling drops to 133% FPL. Kid Care CHIP picks up where Medicaid leaves off, covering children from birth through 18 with household income up to 200% FPL — roughly $3,607 per month for a two-person household.

Both programs are applied for through a single application on the Wyoming Eligibility System (WES) at www.wesystem.wyo.gov, or by calling the Customer Service Center at 1-855-294-2127.

The Income Rule That Changes Everything for Kinship Families

Here is where the program design favors kinship caregivers. If a child does not file a federal tax return and is not claimed as a tax dependent by a parent, the Medicaid/CHIP MAGI non-filer household includes the child and any parents or siblings living with the child. A grandparent is not included solely because they share a home; a child claimed by a non-custodial parent is subject to the separate custody rule.

So if a grandmother earning $2,400 a month in Social Security applies for Kid Care CHIP for her grandchild, DFS does not count her $2,400. The child's eligibility unit income is likely zero — which puts the child squarely within Medicaid coverage, not just CHIP.

This is the same structural advantage that the POWER Caretaker Relative cash grant uses: the caregiver's income does not follow the child into the eligibility calculation. The programs are administered by different departments (DFS for POWER, Department of Health for Medicaid/CHIP), but the income exclusion principle runs through both.

What Coverage Includes

Both Medicaid and Kid Care CHIP provide doctor visits, hospital care, prescription drugs, mental and behavioral health services, vision care, and dental. Preventive care and dental visits are free under both programs. Kid Care CHIP charges small copays for some non-preventive services, but Medicaid has no cost-sharing at all.

Additional benefits worth knowing about:

Travel Assistance can help with eligible travel to Medicaid-covered appointments. Requests for upcoming appointments are made about five business days before the month of travel; requests for appointments already attended must be submitted within 30 days. Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility travel requires prior State approval. If you live in a rural Wyoming county and the nearest specialist is 90 miles away, check whether the trip qualifies before you travel.

Continuous eligibility protects enrolled children from losing coverage due to minor income fluctuations during the year. Once approved, the child stays covered for the full 12-month eligibility period. Case closures require a formal redetermination notice.

Katie Beckett pathway — children with significant disabilities can access Medicaid through this route, which evaluates only the child's individual income and resources, bypassing all household income limits entirely.

Can the Caregiver Get Coverage Too?

If you are a low-income relative caring for a Medicaid-eligible child under 18, you may qualify for Medicaid's Family Care category. But the income limit is strict: roughly $737 per month for a two-person household. Most grandparents receiving Social Security retirement benefits exceed this threshold. Medicare, supplemental Medigap plans, or marketplace coverage are more realistic options for the caregiver.

How to Apply

Apply online through the Wyoming Eligibility System at www.wesystem.wyo.gov, call 1-855-294-2127, or mail a paper application to: WDH Customer Service Center, 3001 E. Pershing Blvd., Suite 125, Cheyenne, WY 82001. You can also fax to 1-855-329-5205 or email to [email protected].

The standard review period is 45 calendar days. Bring the child's birth certificate, Social Security number, and proof of Wyoming residency. You do not need a court order, guardianship papers, or formal custody to apply for health coverage on behalf of a child in your care.

For a complete guide to how Medicaid, CHIP, POWER, SNAP, and other Wyoming programs work together for kinship families — including which programs share income data and which don't — see the Wyoming Kinship Financial Help Guide.

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