Medicaid and CHIP Overview
If the company you work for does not offer health insurance, you can typically receive help through state or federal subsidies, and your child(ren) may be able to receive insurance for free or low-cost on the state run Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
What is a subsidy?
A subsidy for health insurance is when an individual or a family is offered health insurance at a reduced cost or no cost, depending on income. Examples of this include Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and Marketplace plans with tax credits.
What is Medicaid?
In all states, Medicaid provides insurance coverage for people based on income, household size, disability, and other factors. Eligibility rules differ between states. In some states, Medicaid has been expanded to cover all adults below a certain income level. Medicaid programs must follow federal guidelines, but coverage and costs may be different from state to state.
What is CHIP?
CHIP provides excellent coverage for children under 18 through many national health insurance carriers. Premium is calculated by family size and income. In all states, CHIP provides low-cost health coverage to children in families that earn too much money to qualify for Medicaid. In some states, CHIP covers pregnant women.
What does CHIP cover?
CHIP benefits and costs vary from state to state. CHIP typically offers lower copayments than employer-based and private/individual plans bought directly from the carrier. Please see your plan description in order to determine exactly what is covered under your plan.
Typically covered at low or no cost:
Doctor visits
Prescriptions
Dental and vision care
Emergency services