The Children’s Health Insurance Program, also known as CHIP, provides free or low-cost health insurance to children from working families with incomes that are too high to qualify them for Medicaid but too low for them to afford private health insurance.
The program is available in all 50 states and the District of Columbia and covers:
Children also get free preventive care, but low premiums and other services may require you to pick up some of the costs.
Each state creates its own CHIP and determines eligibility, benefits, premiums, and application and renewal procedures. In general, in 2011, a family of 4 with an annual household income of up to $44,100 a year was eligible for coverage.
For More Information
To find out more about CHIP in your state, contact your state Medicaid agency. You can also get information on the Internet at www.insurekidsnow.gov or by calling 877/KIDS NOW (543-7669).