One of the most important parts of any health care program is primary and preventive medical care for children. Preventive care lets children see doctors for regular checkups to help prevent them from getting sick. Primary care covers doctor visits when the child is sick. Pennsylvania's Medical Assistance (MA) program recognizes the value of early health care treatment for children and provides a full package of benefits and services for them.
All children under age 21 receive the Children’s Health Care Benefits Package. The children’s health care benefits package is a comprehensive health care benefit package. Children can also receive services that are not covered by the MA program if the services are medically needed.
For services provided by MA, a child is someone under age 21, even if the child is married or under the care and control of a parent or guardian.
NOTE: This does not include unborn children.
For information about age for each category of MA, see Chapter 321, Age.
Updated March 4, 2025, Replacing June 25, 2024