Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP)

Medicaid (also known as Medical Assistance – MA) is available for children with qualifying disabilities, regardless of parental income, and to families with low household incomes. However, if your child does not qualify for MA (for example, if your child's disability does not meet the criteria set for MA), he or she may qualify for the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). CHIP provides health coverage for families who do not qualify for MA and who are not able to meet the expense of private insurance.

CHIP is funded by states and the federal government, but it is administered by states. There are three different ways in which states have chosen to administer CHIP. Some states separate the child health plan from Medicaid (such as PA and NY), some have a program that combines both (such as NJ and DE), and others have a Medicaid expansion program (such as Maryland). Since CHIP's Reauthorization Act was signed in 2009, more funding has been provided to reach families who were eligible for Medicaid and CHIP but were not currently enrolled.

Additional Resources:

• State-By-State Guide To Children's Healthcare Coverage Programs