Enroll in PeachCare for Kids

PeachCare for Kids is a comprehensive health care program for uninsured children living in Georgia.

PeachCare for Kids is a state children’s insurance program, also known as S-CHIP, that provides comprehensive health benefits at little to no cost to qualifying families. Households must meet certain criteria, including income requirements, in order for children to be eligible for PeachCare for Kids.

PeachCare for Kids’ comprehensive health benefits include primary, preventive, specialist, dental, and vision care. It also covers hospitalization, emergency room services, prescription medications, and mental health care.

How Do I … Enroll in PeachCare for Kids?

Determine if You’re Eligible

• Be a resident of Georgia.
• Be a U.S. citizen or authorized immigrant.
• Be under age 19.
• Not have current health care coverage or be eligible for Medicaid.
• Meet specific income requirements .

Gather What You’ll Need

• Social Security numbers (or document numbers for any authorized immigrants)
• Employer and income information for everyone in your family (for example, from paystubs, W-2 forms, or wage and tax statements). This may include yourself, your spouse, children under 21 who live with you, your unmarried partner who needs health coverage, anyone you include on your tax return (even if they don’t live with you), and anyone under 21 who you take care of and lives with you.
• Policy numbers for any current health insurance, if applicable
• Information about any job-related health insurance available to your family, if applicable
• Medical Assistance application

Apply

• Apply online

• Visit Georgia Gateway online at www.gateway.ga.gov .
• Click “Apply for Benefits.”
• Select “Medical Assistance” when asked for the type of application you want to submit.
• Follow the prompts to apply.

If you already have a Gateway account, but have forgotten or misplaced your Gateway password or your Gateway user ID, please refer to the Gateway website for instructions:

• Call the PeachCare for Kids program at 1-877-427-3224 or the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services at 1-877-423-4746.
• Follow the prompts to apply.

• Download, complete, and print a Medical Assistance Application .
• Submit the application in person at a local DFCS office or Right from the Start Medical Assistance Group office .

• Download, complete, and print a Medical Assistance Application .
• Mail the completed and signed application to:

Division of Family and Children Services

Customer Contact Center

Albany, GA 31706

Next Steps

• Applications typically take approximately 45 days to be processed, however it may be longer if a case worker needs to request additional information.
• You will receive a letter informing you if you are eligible for a program, along with next steps. This letter will include an assigned case number for the family, as well as an assigned client ID number for each family member. Keep this information for your records.
• Once approved, children in the program have a Georgia Families private care management organization (CMO) that is responsible for coordinating the child's care. You will receive a welcome packet with your CMO information and case number.
• You may be required to pay co-payments or monthly premiums while enrolled in the program.
• You may have to prove eligibility and renew your child’s medical benefits annually.
• If you are ineligible for PeachCare for Kids, you may qualify for other state health benefit programs or with the Health Insurance Marketplace under the Affordable Care Act.

• Determine if You’re Eligible
• Gather What You’ll Need
• Apply
• Next Steps