
The Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) is a federal healthcare program that provides free or low-cost health coverage to children in families that earn too much money to qualify for Medicaid. CHIP is administered and named differently by each state, with benefits varying across states. CHIP covers basic healthcare, including vision and dental care, prescriptions, emergency services, x-rays, sick visits, immunizations, annual checkups, and mental health services for eligible children. CHIP also covers pregnant women in some states.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) |
| Coverage | Children and other family members |
| Age Limit | Up to 19 years old |
| Cost | Free or low-cost |
| Income | For families who earn too much to qualify for Medicaid but cannot afford private insurance |
| Application | Can be applied for at any time of year |
| Benefits | Doctor and dentist check-ups, prescription drugs, hospital care, X-rays, vision and hearing care, access to specialists, mental health care, treatment for pre-existing conditions, and more |
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What You'll Learn
- CHIP provides free or low-cost health insurance for children in low-income families
- CHIP covers children up to age 18 or 19, depending on the state
- CHIP eligibility is based on income and non-financial criteria, like residency
- CHIP is a federal program, but each state manages its own CHIP program
- CHIP covers basic healthcare, including vision, dental, prescriptions, and mental health

CHIP provides free or low-cost health insurance for children in low-income families
The Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) is a government-run programme that provides free or low-cost health insurance for children in low-income families. CHIP is a federal programme, but it is administered and named differently by each state. For example, in New York, the programme is called Child Health Plus, while in Arkansas, it is called ARKids.
CHIP provides health insurance for children under the age of 19 whose families fall into certain income brackets. The income limits for CHIP depend on the state, but generally, a family of four is covered if their annual income is $106,000 before taxes. CHIP covers basic healthcare, including vision and dental care, prescriptions, emergency services, x-rays, sick visits, immunizations, annual checkups, and mental health services for eligible children.
To be eligible for CHIP, a child cannot be eligible for Medicaid. Children who are currently uninsured and whose families earn too much money to qualify for Medicaid may be eligible for CHIP. In some states, CHIP also covers pregnant women who meet the financial and non-financial criteria for eligibility.
Families can apply for CHIP at any time of year, and there is no limited enrolment period. If they qualify, their coverage can start immediately. CHIP benefits vary by state, but all states provide comprehensive coverage, including routine "well child" doctor and dental visits, which are free under CHIP. There may be a small co-payment for some services for higher-income families on CHIP.
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CHIP covers children up to age 18 or 19, depending on the state
The Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) is a government-run programme that provides free or low-cost health insurance coverage to children under the age of 18 or 19, depending on the state, in families that earn too much money to qualify for Medicaid. CHIP is available in every state, but each state has its own rules about who qualifies for coverage. For example, in Mississippi, applications for CHIP must be made in person at the Medicaid Regional Office that covers the county in which the applicant lives.
CHIP covers basic healthcare, including vision and dental care, prescriptions, emergency services, x-rays, sick visits, immunizations, annual checkups, and mental health services for eligible children. In some states, CHIP also covers pregnant women. For instance, infants born to targeted low-income pregnant women are automatically deemed eligible for Medicaid or CHIP until the child turns one year old.
CHIP is a federal programme, but each state administers it separately and may have different names for it. For example, New York calls its programme "Child Health Plus", while Arkansas calls its programme "ARKids". Income limits for CHIP eligibility also depend on the state, but generally, a family of four is covered if their annual income is $106,000 before taxes.
CHIP is similar to Medicaid in that the federal government provides matching funds to each state, and responsibility for managing CHIP falls under the state's Medicaid administration. However, CHIP is not part of Medicaid, and data on the two programmes are not always presented together.
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CHIP eligibility is based on income and non-financial criteria, like residency
The Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) is a government-run programme that provides health insurance to children aged 18 or younger. CHIP provides low-cost health coverage to children in families who earn too much money to qualify for Medicaid. CHIP is administered and named differently by each state. For example, New York calls its programme Child Health Plus, while Arkansas calls its programme ARKids.
CHIP eligibility is based on income and non-financial criteria. Income eligibility is based on Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI). MAGI is used to determine eligibility for Medicaid, CHIP, and premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions available through the health insurance marketplace. The income limits for CHIP depend on the state, but generally, a family of four is covered if their annual income is $106,000 before taxes.
To be eligible for CHIP, a child cannot be eligible for Medicaid. Children who are uninsured, not covered through a group health plan or creditable health insurance, and meet immigration requirements may be eligible for CHIP. CHIP beneficiaries must be residents of the state in which they are receiving CHIP and must be either citizens of the United States or certain qualified non-citizens, such as lawful permanent residents.
In addition to income and residency requirements, CHIP eligibility is based on other non-financial criteria. For example, inmates of a public institution and patients in an institution for mental diseases are generally not eligible for CHIP. Children who are eligible for health benefits coverage under a state health benefits plan due to a family member's employment with a public agency are also typically not eligible for CHIP.
Each state has its own rules about who qualifies for CHIP, and there may be additional eligibility criteria specific to each state. It is important to note that CHIP benefits may vary across states, but all states provide comprehensive coverage, including routine "well child" doctor and dental visits.
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CHIP is a federal program, but each state manages its own CHIP program
The Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) is a federal program that provides health insurance to children aged 18 or younger. CHIP is available to children in families that earn too much money to qualify for Medicaid but still need assistance in accessing health coverage. In some states, CHIP also covers pregnant women. CHIP is a federal program, but each state manages its own CHIP program, and the program is named and administered differently in each state. For example, New York calls its program "Child Health Plus", while Arkansas calls its program "ARKids".
CHIP was originally enacted by the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 and was later reauthorized and funded through the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 (CHIPRA). The Affordable Care Act of 2010 (ACA) extended CHIP's funding through fiscal year 2015, and subsequent legislation has further extended CHIP's funding through fiscal year 2027.
Each state has its own rules and eligibility criteria for CHIP, including income eligibility, which is based on Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI). States have flexibility in setting their own eligibility standards within the federal framework, and benefits may differ from state to state. While CHIP is not a part of Medicaid, they work closely together, and the federal government provides matching funds to each state for CHIP, similar to Medicaid.
Families must apply for CHIP, and applications are made at the Medicaid Regional Office that covers the county where the applicant lives. CHIP provides low-cost or free health coverage, and there are no premiums or deductibles. However, there may be a small co-payment for some services for higher-income families.
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CHIP covers basic healthcare, including vision, dental, prescriptions, and mental health
The Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) is a government-run programme that provides health insurance to children aged 18 or younger. CHIP covers basic healthcare, including vision, dental, prescriptions, and mental health. It is available to children in families that earn too much money to qualify for Medicaid. CHIP provides low-cost health coverage to children who are not eligible for health benefits under any other scheme.
CHIP covers basic healthcare services, including vision and dental care, prescriptions, emergency services, x-rays, sick visits, immunizations, annual checkups, and mental health services for eligible children. The specific benefits covered by CHIP may vary from state to state, and some states may offer additional benefits beyond the basic package. For example, routine "well child" doctor and dental visits are free under CHIP in some states.
CHIP is designed to provide health insurance to children from low-income families who do not qualify for Medicaid. The income eligibility criteria for CHIP are generally based on the family's Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) and the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). The income limits for CHIP depend on the state, but a family of four typically qualifies if their annual income is $106,000 or less before taxes.
In some states, CHIP also covers pregnant women who meet certain financial and non-financial criteria. Infants born to targeted low-income pregnant women are automatically deemed eligible for CHIP until the child turns one year old. This ensures that pregnant women and their newborns can access the necessary healthcare services without the added financial burden.
CHIP is administered differently in each state, and the eligibility requirements and benefits offered may vary. Families interested in enrolling their children in CHIP can apply at any time during the year, and coverage can start immediately upon qualification. By providing low-cost or free health insurance, CHIP helps ensure that children from low-income families have access to essential healthcare services, promoting their overall health and well-being.
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Frequently asked questions
CHIP stands for Children's Health Insurance Program. It is a government program that provides free or low-cost health insurance coverage to children under the age of 19 in families that earn too much to qualify for Medicaid.
CHIP covers basic healthcare, including vision and dental care, prescriptions, emergency services, x-rays, sick visits, immunizations, annual checkups, and mental health services. Routine "well child" doctor and dental visits are free under CHIP.
You can apply for CHIP through the Health Insurance Marketplace at any time of year. Applications must be made in person at the Medicaid Regional Office that covers the county where the applicant lives.
Income eligibility for CHIP is based on Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) and varies by state. For the most part, a family of four is covered if their annual income is $106,000 before taxes.
Yes, CHIP is available in all states, but each state offers different benefits and has its own rules about who qualifies. For example, the program is called Child Health Plus in New York and ARKids in Arkansas.










































