The 2021 open enrollment period for health insurance began November 2, 2020 and goes through December 15th. Let’s make sure everyone who is eligible signs up for the health insurance they need to stay healthy.

Medicaid and the Kentucky Children’s Health Insurance Program (KCHIP) provides free or low-cost health coverage to low-income Kentucky families, pregnant women, and children in foster care. This coverage will provide Kentuckians the access to receive routine health care services and when they are sick, including:

  • Medical care, including for chronic conditions like asthma and diabetes
  • Vision exams and vision wear
  • Substance use treatment, such as detox and outpatient services
  • Mental health treatment and counseling
  • Dental coverage

The open enrollment period is a chance for Kentuckians currently enrolled in Medicaid or KCHIP  to choose another Managed Care Organization (MCO). The 2021 MCO options are changing—Kentucky now has six MCOs administering the Medicaid program and KCHIP, which are listed below. The six MCOs implementation will start on January 1, 2021.

View a side-by-side of MCO benefits/services. Review open enrollment FAQs.

Also, this year, Kentucky is bringing back kynect, which is a self-service portal connecting Kentuckians to benefits, including health insurance coverage. The kynect portal offers pre-screening tools and you can access application assistance by contacting a Department for Community Based Services (DCBS) worker at your local DCBS office, or calling (855) 306-8959.

Recently on our Advocate Virtual Forum, we discussed Medicaid open enrollment, including what’s new for this year, such as the Supporting Kentucky Youth (SKY) program that will provide health services for all kids living in foster care. Panelists included Allison Adams, Vice President for Public Policy at the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky; Veronica Cecil, Deputy Commissioner at Kentucky Department for Medicaid Services; Kelly Pullen, Executive Director of Kentucky SKY; and Ashley Shoemaker, Director of Outreach and Enrollment at Family Health Centers. Watch the forum HERE or listen to the conversations on our Making Kids Count podcast