MC+100 is an old Missouri label, no longer in use. It referred to a tier of children’s health coverage under Missouri Medicaid for kids in families whose income was above standard Medicaid limits but within the Children’s Health Insurance Program ceiling, with the “100” pointing to an income threshold tied to the federal poverty level. If you’re searching for MC+100 Missouri Medicaid today, the program you’re actually looking for is MO HealthNet for Kids, which now covers both the standard children’s Medicaid group and the CHIP group that MC+100 once marked.
What MC+100 Became
MO HealthNet is Missouri’s Medicaid program, run by the MO HealthNet Division inside the Department of Social Services.1Missouri Department of Social Services. MO HealthNet Division The state used to market its children’s tiers under an “MC+” prefix, with numbers like 100 and 150 corresponding to income ceilings expressed as percentages of the federal poverty level. That naming is retired. All of it now sits under MO HealthNet for Kids, split into a standard Medicaid tier and a CHIP tier depending on where a family’s income falls. If you’ve seen “MC+100” on older paperwork or heard it from a caseworker who’s been around a while, treat it as a reference to today’s MO HealthNet for Kids with a CHIP component.
Who Qualifies for MO HealthNet for Kids
To qualify, a child must live in Missouri and plan to stay, and must be a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen.2DSS Manuals. MO HealthNet for Kids Facility Outreach Flyer Eligibility runs on Modified Adjusted Gross Income measured against the federal poverty level. Assets like savings and vehicles don’t count.
Income limits turn on the child’s age:
- Infants under age 1: family income up to 196% of the federal poverty level.
- Children ages 1 through 18: family income up to 148% of the federal poverty level.
For a family of four in 2026, the federal poverty level is $33,000 per year.3ASPE. 2026 Poverty Guidelines So an infant in a four-person household qualifies for standard MO HealthNet for Kids at roughly $64,680 or less, and a child age 1 or older at about $48,840 or less. Children in this tier receive full Medicaid benefits with no premiums or cost-sharing.
The CHIP Tier That MC+100 Resembled
Families earning above the standard limits can still get coverage through Missouri’s CHIP component, which runs up to 300% of the federal poverty level. The child must be uninsured to qualify.2DSS Manuals. MO HealthNet for Kids Facility Outreach Flyer This is the slice of coverage closest to what the old MC+100 label meant.
CHIP splits into two sub-tiers:
- Non-premium CHIP: families with income above 148% of the federal poverty level and at or below 150% pay no monthly premium.
- Premium CHIP: families above 150% and up to 300% pay a monthly premium that varies with family size and income.
Premiums are not flat. For a family of four, the monthly cost ranges from $38 at the lower end of the premium tier to $301 at the higher end. A family of two might pay as little as $25 per month, and a family of six at the top income bracket could pay over $400.4Missouri Department of Social Services. Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Premium Chart The chart is updated periodically, so check the current figures before you budget. Missed premium payments can end coverage.
What the Coverage Includes
Children on MO HealthNet for Kids get comprehensive benefits: primary care, hospital stays, emergency care, dental checkups, vision exams, prescriptions, and mental and behavioral health services.5MO.gov. Children’s Health
EPSDT, the Federal Floor Parents Should Know
Children on Medicaid have a federal protection many families never hear about. The Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment benefit, which Missouri calls the Healthy Children and Youth program, requires the state to cover any medically necessary service for a child under 21, even services that aren’t normally covered for adults on Medicaid.6Missouri Department of Social Services. HCY EPSDT Program
EPSDT entitles your child to regular screenings covering a physical exam, developmental history, immunizations, lab work including lead screening, and vision, hearing, and dental checks.7Medicaid.gov. EPSDT – A Guide for States If a screening turns up a problem, the state must provide treatment to correct or improve the condition. That reaches speech therapy, mental health treatment, orthodontic care when medically necessary, hearing aids, and eyeglasses. When a provider says a service is needed and the state denies it, citing EPSDT is often the strongest argument on appeal.
One boundary worth naming: children in state custody, kids receiving adoption or guardianship subsidies, youth in the Division of Youth Services, and former foster care youth under 26 get their care through a separate managed care plan called Show Me Healthy Kids rather than the general MO HealthNet for Kids track.8Missouri Department of Social Services. Show Me Healthy Kids
How to Apply
The Family Support Division within the Department of Social Services takes MO HealthNet applications. You can apply four ways:
- Online through the FSD Benefit Portal at mydss.mo.gov, which is the fastest.
- By mail, using a paper application printed from the portal.
- In person at a local FSD Resource Center.
- By phone through the FSD.
Have proof of income for the past 30 days, Social Security numbers for household members, and documentation of residency and citizenship or immigration status ready.9Department of Social Services. Verification Requirements for Medicaid/MC+ and Cash Assistance Programs The FSD generally decides within 45 days. If you haven’t heard back by then, call them.10Missouri Department of Social Services. Apply for Healthcare
Presumptive Eligibility for Faster Coverage
Missouri lets certain healthcare facilities grant temporary Medicaid coverage to children on the spot, before a full application is processed. This is called presumptive eligibility, and it means your child can see a doctor right away instead of waiting weeks. Qualified entities include children’s hospitals, Federally Qualified Health Centers, and Rural Health Clinics.11Department of Social Services. Presumptive Eligibility for Children Program
The temporary coverage runs until the end of the month following the month it was granted, unless the FSD decides the full application sooner. You still have to file a regular MO HealthNet application; if you don’t file one by the end of that following month, the temporary coverage ends. A child can only receive presumptive eligibility once in any 12-month period.
Keeping Coverage Once Your Child Is Enrolled
Federal rules give enrolled children a 12-month continuous eligibility period. During that window, the state cannot end your child’s coverage because of changes in your income or household size.12eCFR. 42 CFR 435.926 – Continuous Eligibility for Children Coverage can only end mid-period if the child turns 19, moves out of Missouri, dies, voluntarily disenrolls, or the state finds eligibility was granted due to fraud or agency error.
At the end of the 12 months, the state redetermines eligibility. For children on MAGI-based programs, federal rules require renewal only once every 12 months.13Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Implementation of Eligibility Redeterminations, Section 71107 The FSD will first try to renew using information it already has, including tax data. If it can confirm eligibility on its own, you may not need to do anything. If it needs more, you’ll get a renewal packet by mail. Respond fast. Missing the deadline can create a coverage gap even when the family still qualifies.
When Your Child Turns 19
MO HealthNet for Kids ends at age 19. Before terminating coverage, the state has to check whether the person qualifies under a different Medicaid category. Adults ages 19 through 64 may qualify for MO HealthNet for Expansion Adults with household income at or below 133% of the federal poverty level.14Missouri Department of Social Services. Benefit Program Income Limits For a single adult in 2026, that’s about $20,814 per year.
Former foster care youth get a separate protection: if they were in foster care on their 18th birthday and had Medicaid at that time, they can stay enrolled in MO HealthNet until age 26, regardless of income.8Missouri Department of Social Services. Show Me Healthy Kids If your child is nearing 19 and falls into neither category, look at the federal Health Insurance Marketplace before the transition so coverage doesn’t lapse.
If You’re Denied
If the FSD denies your application, cuts your child’s benefits, or ends coverage, you can request a fair hearing. The request can be made orally or in writing, so a phone call counts.15DSS Manuals. Requesting a Fair Hearing Under federal rules, you have up to 90 days from the date the notice of action was mailed.16eCFR. Subpart E – Fair Hearings for Applicants and Beneficiaries
Timing matters, especially if your child is already enrolled and the state wants to reduce or end benefits. If you request the hearing before the effective date of the state’s action, coverage generally continues at its current level until a decision is reached. If you wait until after the effective date, you may still get coverage reinstated, but there can be a gap in between. Act on a denial notice quickly.