Healthy Start

• Are you pregnant?
• Do you have a child under the age of 19?
• Do you need help paying for health care for you and your children?

Call 1-800-722-2295, the Maternal and Child Health Hotline

If you need help paying for the health care for you and your children, Wisconsin's Healthy Start Program may be able to help.

Healthy Start is part of the Medical Assistance Program (Medicaid). It pays for medical care for pregnant women, babies, and children. It covers most babies until they are one year of age, even if the family's income goes up. Families with health insurance may apply. If you are under-insured and/or you don't have health coverage for prenatal care services or the birth of the baby, you may be eligible for Healthy Start.

Healthy Start pays for:

• all doctor visits and hospital costs
• prescription drugs
• delivery of your baby
• health care (including medical, dental, vision, counseling) for pregnant women up to 60 days following delivery
• health care (including medical, dental, vision, counseling) for children up to age 19.

Am I eligible for Healthy Start?

Eligibility is based on your family's gross (before taxes) income. This includes income from all sources. There is no asset test. Families with higher income may qualify if they have child care, word-related, or medical expenses.

Application Check List

• Make sure you answer all questions on the application
• Make sure your worker tests for eligibility on the CARES (Client Assistance for Re-employment and Economic Support) System?
• Make sure you understand the Family Fiscal Unit
• Make sure to ask about other services such as Health Check and WIC
• Make sure to ask about back dating your coverage for 3 months
• If benefits are denied, make sure to ask your worker about your deductible
• Make sure to bring verification documents such as birth certificates, pay stubs, and medical verification of pregnancy.