FAQs

Medicaid is a Federal and State program that provides health coverage to residents of Georgia who meet eligibility requirements. In Georgia, Medicaid is comprised of two programs: Medicaid and PeachCare for Kids®.

Children 18 and under who are eligible for Medicaid (including Medicaid or PeachCare for Kids), enrolled with a Care Management Organization, and live in a county where Kaiser Permanente has a contract to provide services, may choose to receive care from a participating Kaiser Permanente pediatrician in the Georgia region.

After you’ve been approved for Medicaid, here’s what you need to do to select Medicaid with Kaiser Permanente and choose a Kaiser Permanente doctor:

1. First, find the Kaiser Permanente facility that is most convenient for you. Make a note of the facility’s address.
2. Then, contact the Care Management Organization (CMO) you are assigned to and tell them the address of your preferred facility. Your CMO can see which providers are accepting new patients.

Kaiser Permanente may or may not be accepting new patients depending on our contract with our plan partners, Amerigroup, Peach State and CareSource.

If you think you qualify for Medicaid, visit https://gateway.ga.gov/ or call 1-877-423-4746 to start your application process.

Learn more about the Medicaid application process.

You can apply at any time during the year – there is no deadline. In some cases, your child/children may be able to get Medicaid coverage right away.

Learn more about the Medicaid enrollment process.

To check on the status of your child’s application, visit https://gateway.ga.gov/ or call 1-877-423-4746.

If your child/children have been turned down for Medicaid, they might still be eligible for federal financial assistance. Visit https://gateway.ga.gov/ to choose health coverage that meets your family’s needs.

For Medicaid, there is no monthly premium and no out-of-pocket cost for most covered services. For PeachCare for Kids, a small monthly premium may apply.

Medicaid and Healthcare.gov both offer health coverage. Income eligibility is lower for Medicaid than for Healthcare.gov health plans. If your child/children qualify for Medicaid, their health care will be free or low-cost and they are not eligible to also get financial assistance on a Healthcare.gov health plan.

Yes, you can choose your child’s pediatrician from our wide network of doctors. You can also switch your child to a new Kaiser Permanente doctor at any time.

All of our available pediatricians take Medicaid health plan patients. Simply visit kp.org/chooseyourdoctor.

You can find information on medical facility locations, departments, and care at kp.org. You can also call us at 1-866-395-4772, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

You can find detailed plan information on your Care Management Organization’s health plan website, or by contacting your Care Management Organization.

Yes, please bring your child/children’s Medicaid ID card any time your child/children receive services, as providers use the information on the card to check your child/children’s eligibility.

Medicaid recipients will receive one ID card from your Care Management Organization with Kaiser Permanente information on it.

PeachCare for Kids recipients will receive two ID cards – one from your Care Management Organization, and one from PeachCare for Kids.

Please continue to bring your child/children’s Georgia Medicaid card to their appointments even after you receive their CMO ID card(s).

Medicaid is based on month-to-month eligibility, but benefits are reevaluated on a yearly basis for aged, blind, and disabled Medicaid, and every six months for family Medicaid. The GA Division of Family and Children Services will confirm whether your child/children remain eligible for the program they have.

You will receive a review form in the mail with instructions – be sure to return the review form by the date shown or your child/children may lose their benefits.

Learn more about the annual renewal process.

If your child/children no longer qualify for Medicaid, you’ll have a limited amount of time to act to get other coverage before your Special Enrollment Period ends. You should quickly see if you are eligible for financial assistance from the government by visiting https://healthcare.gov.

Losing health coverage such as Medicaid is considered a qualifying event that would trigger a Special Enrollment Period. You are eligible to enroll within 60 days of that event.