The Montana Medicaid/HELP program and the Montana University System are working in partnership to provide student Medicaid/HELP clients with excellent medical coverage at a reasonable cost to the taxpayers.

The student health insurance plan is cost-effective for a large number of Medicaid/HELP clients. When the state determines a group insurance plan to be cost effective, the Montana Medicaid/HELP client is required to enroll in the insurance program, and then apply for the Health Insurance Premium Payment (HIPP) program.

  • The HIPP program allows state Medicaid funds to be used to pay for private health insurance coverage when it is cost effective to do so.
  • The program is designed to provide additional coverage, not replace the coverage they have, with the student health insurance plan.
  • The student health insurance plan becomes the primary coverage and Medicaid/HELP as the secondary coverage.

*IMPORTANT*

Adult Medicaid/HELP clients MUST comply with Third-Party Liability programs, including the HIPP program, as a condition of keeping their Medicaid/HELP medical coverage. If they drop, or refuse, health insurance coverage that the state has determined to be cost effective, their Medicaid/HELP medical coverage may be canceled.

For questions regarding application to the program, please contact:
Business Services
406-265-3733

For questions regarding the Health Insurance Premium Payment (HIPP) program, please contact:
Helen Taffs, HIPP Program Specialist
406-444-4552 htaffs2@mt.gov