Written by a parent, not a doctor. Nothing here is medical advice.

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Rhode Island program

Premium help for a parent of a child on Medicaid

Extra help with a HealthSource RI silver-plan premium for a parent or caretaker who cannot get Medicaid themselves.

What it is

Extra help with a HealthSource RI silver-plan premium for a parent or caretaker who cannot get Medicaid themselves.

A parent can fall above the adult Medicaid line while a child remains covered. This program helps with the parent’s marketplace premium in that gap. The family still has some premium and treatment costs.

Eligibility rules
  • You must have primary responsibility for a Medicaid-enrolled child under 19 and be ineligible for Medicaid yourself.
  • The income ceiling is 175% of poverty. The chart revised February 16, 2026 lists $3,156 monthly for two people, $3,984 for three and $4,813 for four; the assistance unit must confirm the income period and table for your decision.
What you get
  • Help toward a qualifying silver-plan premium for the parent or caretaker.
What this covers
  • Assistance is tied to a HealthSource RI silver plan. It does not itself establish separate deductible or copay help.
  • The current rule lists fixed monthly help. For a family of three it is $49 in the 138–150% poverty band and $43 in the 151–175% band. Your remaining premium depends on the chosen silver plan and any federal tax credit. Separate federal cost-sharing reductions may lower a qualifying silver plan’s deductible and copays; this state premium payment does not itself erase them.
If you decide to apply
  1. Tell HealthSource RI that you care for a child enrolled in Medicaid and ask about parent and caretaker premium assistance.
  2. Bring your child’s Medicaid information and your current household income. Ask for the remaining premium and treatment costs in writing.

The state, through HealthSource RI: 1-855-840-4774 · Official page ↗

After you ask
  • Ask HealthSource RI and EOHHS to confirm the current parent/caretaker application process and first month of assistance. The active rule describes a separate review and monthly subsidy checks; it does not promise an automatic credit on the first marketplace bill. Confirm what you must pay and when, because the wider program scheduled for 2027 has separate rules.
Good to know

This help is for the premium. The plan’s deductible and copays remain part of the comparison.

Other details
  • A wider state affordability program begins with 2027 coverage. Its rules should not be substituted for this 2026 parent/caretaker route.
Official sources
Ask your social worker

“If my child has Medicaid but I do not qualify, could this lower my silver-plan premium? Could you help me compare what I would still pay before enrolling?”

Why I’m asking: I want to find affordable coverage for the parent doing the caring.

More background and detailed requirements
Additional program information and published rules

Who does what

The three parts, side by side. The agency decides; nobody on this page does.

You

Say on the application that your child is enrolled in Medicaid.

Your social worker

HealthSource RI works out the premium help.

The care team

Records and letters when the application asks for them.

Who decides
The state, through HealthSource RI.
Ask your social worker
“Our child is on Medicaid and we are over the adult line. Can we get help with a premium?”

How to apply

First step: Tell HealthSource RI that your child is on Medicaid and ask for parent and caretaker premium help.

  1. Tell HealthSource RI your child is on Medicaid and ask about parent and caretaker premium help.

Official application / program page ↗

Where it starts: Ask HealthSource RI for parent and caretaker premium help when you enrol.

What to gather

The diagnosis letter, the child’s insurance card, and the last two pay stubs cover most applications. The official page lists the rest.

Watch out

  • It helps with the premium only, not the deductible or copays.

The numbers and the rules

The arcane layer, kept on purpose. Checked September 10, 2026.

What it is worth

Help with a silver-plan premium for a parent of a Medicaid child, up to $4,813 a month for four people.

  • $4,813/month — Income ceiling, household of 4 (175% of poverty)
  • $3,984/month — Income ceiling, household of 3
  • $3,156/month — Income ceiling, household of 2

Covers: Help toward the premium on a marketplace silver plan

What it costs the family: You still pay a share of the premium and the plan's own deductible and copays.

The eligibility facts, as published

Income
up to 175% of poverty
Other
primary responsibility for a Medicaid-enrolled child under 19, and not otherwise Medicaid eligible

The trap: It is premium help only. Separate help with a deductible or copays was not found, so budget for those.

Where I read this

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