Eligibility & Benefits
Eligibility & Benefits
No family makes too much money for CHIP. Most kids receive CHIP for free. Others can get the same benefits at a low cost. If your income is below the lowest amount listed, your child or teen may be enrolled in Medical Assistance. Learn more about how to qualify for CHIP, what it covers and how to apply by watching our YouTube videos.
How do I know if my child qualifies?*
Based on your family size and income, your child or teen may be eligible if he or she meets the following requirements:
- Under 19 years of age
- A U.S. Citizen, U.S. National or Qualified Alien
- A resident of Pennsylvania
- Uninsured and not eligible for Medical Assistance
An average family of four making $44,000 qualifies for free CHIP. View complete income information here.
Information for Grandparents
*Like parents, if you're a grandparent, coverage for your grandchildren is based on your income. Read more to find out if you are covered.
Information for Immigrants
*Immigrant children who entered the United States on or after August 22, 1996 must have been continuous residents for 5 years to be eligible. This rule does not apply to children born in the U.S. and living in Pennsylvania. Read more to find out if you are covered.
* All new applicants whose income falls in the low-cost and full-cost CHIP ranges must also show that the child(ren) has been uninsured for six months, unless the child is under the age of two, the child has lost health insurance because a parent lost their job or the child is moving from another public insurance program. This does not apply to families who qualify for Free CHIP. Free CHIP children do not have to be uninsured for six months.
Benefits
Watch our YouTube videos to see how CHIP covers childhood adventures! CHIP is there for your kids with quality, comprehensive health insurance coverage for routine doctor visits, prescriptions, dental, eye care and much more, including:
- Immunizations
- Routine Check-ups & Well Visits
- Prescription Drugs
- Dental, Vision, Hearing Services
- Emergency Care
- Mental Health Benefits
- Hospitalization
- Durable Medical Equipment
- Substance Abuse Treatment
- Partial Hospitalization for Mental Health Services
- Rehabilitation Therapies
- Home Health Care
- Maternity Care
Dental Care
Includes emergency, preventive, routine exams (every six months), as well as root canals, crowns, periodontics and oral surgery for removal of partially or fully impacted wisdom teeth. Orthodontia and cosmetic surgery are not included.
Eye Care
Includes emergency, preventive, and routine eye care, as well as the cost of exams, corrective lenses (up to two prescriptions per year), frames and medically necessary contact lenses.
Hearing Services
Includes emergency and preventive care, as well as the cost of examinations and hearing devices.
Mental Health Services
Includes outpatient (50 visits per year) and inpatient mental health services (90 days in combination with medical admissions).
Substance Abuse Services
Includes detoxification, non-hospital residential placement, partial hospitalization and outpatient counseling.
Includes palliative (pain relief) and support services, professional services of an RN or LPN and medical care provided by a physician affiliated with the hospice agency.
Live Chat
In order to better serve you, we've created a new 'live chat' feature where you can chat online with a CHIP representative directly from your computer Monday - Friday 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Please click on the button below to launch the chat window.
Tell A Friend
If you think CHIP could help someone you know, please fill out the information below and we'll send them an e-mail. Telling your friends, families and co-workers about CHIP has always been the best way to spread the word–and good health.
Do you want to help more families in your community?
Tell others about CHIP! You may not realize that the people you work with, worship with or that your children go to school with, are in need of health insurance for their children. Spread the word about CHIP by ordering free CHIP brochures to drop off at your school, library, hospital, doctor’s office, athletic director’s office, or place of worship. Or encourage us to contact them.
If you are a community organization or business, become a COMPASS Community Partner! COMPASS is Pennsylvania's one-stop online screener and application for health and human services. Through COMPASS, Pennsylvania families can apply for numerous programs with ONE application. The application is submitted directly to the appropriate departments, which decreases the amount of processing time.
By becoming a Community Partner, you and your organization can:
- Use the Power User version of COMPASS to help Pennsylvania families apply online for social services such as health insurance, cash assistance, Food Stamps, LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) and long-term care through ONE single application
- Initiate and track applications
- Verify an applicants identity and submit applications with an E-Signature
