Medicaid and CHIP

Medicaid and CHIP together form the public health insurance system for people with low incomes, covering children, pregnant women, people with disabilities, seniors, and many working families who cannot afford private coverage. Medicaid is jointly funded and administered by the federal government and the states, which means eligibility rules, covered services, and application processes vary depending on where you live. CHIP fills a gap just above Medicaid’s income limits, giving children in working families access to affordable coverage.

Eligibility and enrollment depend on income, household size, age, and other factors that differ by state, and many people qualify even while employed. Understanding the basics is a good starting point, covered in Understanding Medicaid: Your Guide to Basic Eligibility and Coverage, while families with children specifically may want to see CHIP: How Kids Get Health Coverage.

Staying enrolled requires keeping information current and completing periodic reviews, since coverage can lapse if paperwork isn’t submitted on time. The renewal process and reporting requirements are explained in Keeping Medicaid Coverage: A Guide to the Renewal Process and Keeping Your Medicaid: A Complete Guide to Reporting Changes to Your State Agency.

Coverage and overlap with other programs matter too, since Medicaid pays for a wide range of services, from dental and pregnancy care to long-term care for seniors and people with disabilities, and it can work alongside Medicare for those who qualify for both. See Your Guide to Medicaid Services: What’s Typically Covered? and Can I Have Both Medicare and Medicaid? Understanding Dual Eligibility for how these pieces fit together.