If you had to apply for CHIP or Wic...

Vet-Tech · January 2011

How long did it take to get a response telling you if you've been approved? I have an idiot of a husband & just recently found out we haven't had health insurance since the end of November. Nice to know with a 4 month old. I applied for CHIP online Wednesday & faxed over what they needed. I was just curious how quickly I may hear something. I'm stressing out the baby will get sick & we'll be screwed.

Kate621 · January 2011

It might be different in every state, not sure. I worked for the state of Illinois and Wisconsin and they have to give you an answer within 30 days.

DreadLoc · January 2011

WIC has nothing to do with health insurance...it's all about nutrition and I received my checks the same day I applied.

But medicaid took like 2 months because they kept loosing my paperwork, even after I received confirmation that they received it Confused

wifeofaussie · January 2011

We qualified for emergency Medicaid because I got laid off when I told my boss I was pregnant (nice, right?) and couldn't afford the outrageous COBRA payments since I was the breadwinner at the time. In Colorado, CHP and Medicaid were a joint application because if you didn't qualify for one, they would check for the other at the same time.

My Medicaid took 5 months to approve! They kept losing my paperwork even after confirming they'd received it like a PP said. I had to call frequently and harass them to keep it moving. Thankfully, that was just my paperwork that had problems and it all worked out in the end in time for delivery. Things went fine for DD after she was born and then DH got a great job with great health insurance and we were able to kick Medicaid to the curb.

Apply ASAP and call often!

uptonogood · January 2011

I'm in PA too and CHIP took forever in our county. WhenI hadn't gotten an answer from them after after about 5 weeks, I called to find out what was going on. I was told that they were really backed up and it could take "some time" for an answer. Well, I didn't have "some time" becuase my LO needed to go to the doctor for her 2 month vaccines. I told the woman my situation and she said she would call me back. About 2 hours later, I got a call and she had my paperwork pushed through and approved that day.

NillaWafers · January 2011

I went into the WIC center and applied there, sometime they'll even have a state insurance/national insurance person there to handle your applications.

WIC was instantaneous and our state insurance (Medi-Cal) took about a month.

mbyoung · January 2011

When we applied for DS, it took about 6 weeks for us to hear something, and the only reason I did was because I finally was tired of waiting and called. I found out that DS was going to be covered, but it wouldn't be effective for 2 more weeks after that. I was ready to scream becuase they will not cover doctor visits unless it is medically necessary. I asked about shots and they told me I would be on my own for them. Good luck!

kjuliet91 · January 2011

I got approved for WIC that day. When I applied for Medicaid when I was pregnant, though, it took several weeks. I didn't see a doctor until I was 13 weeks.