CHIP, short for the Children's Health Insurance Program, is Pennsylvania’s program to provide health insurance to uninsured children and teens who are not eligible for or enrolled in Medical Assistance. There are a lot of reasons kids might not have health insurance; maybe their parents lost a job, their parents are not offered health insurance at work, or maybe other options cost too much. Whatever the reason, CHIP may be able to help. All families need to do is apply.
Parents may think their kids can't get CHIP because they make too much money, but this is not true. CHIP has expanded its coverage to all uninsured kids and teens up to age 19 who are not eligible for Medical Assistance.
CHIP coverage is provided by private health insurance companies that are licensed and regulated by the Pennsylvania Insurance Department and have contracts with the commonwealth to offer CHIP coverage. Find out who offers CHIP in your county.
Once enrolled, children are guaranteed 12 months
of CHIP coverage unless they no longer meet the basic eligibility requirements.
Families must renew their coverage each year in order for their child’s CHIP
coverage to continue. The Department of Human Services will send renewal
notices 90 days before the benefits are scheduled to end. The families must fill out and send the
renewal information back to the County Assistance Office or their CHIP
insurance plan in order for CHIP benefits to continue.
As the legal guardian who is exercising care and control you can apply for healthcare for your grandchild(ren). Your grandchild(ren) that live with you due to legal adoption may be eligilble for CHIP. When you apply for CHIP, your income will only be counted if you have legally adopted your grandchild(ren).
There are no exclusions for pre-existing conditions in CHIP or Medical Assistance. If your child has a serious medical condition or disability, he or she may be considered for Medical Assistance.
No. There is no waiting list to enroll in CHIP.
CHIP will use the information you provide in your CHIP application, as well as other state and federal databases, to determine whether your child is eligible for CHIP coverage or Medical Assistance. Under the Affordable Care Act, which went into effect on January 1, 2014, CHIP uses calculations based on federal income tax rules with some modifications to determine household income.
Under the Affordable Care Act, a parent is defined as a biological, adoptive, or step-parent. This means that a step-parent's income must be counted in the eligibility determination. If a step-sibling is living in the household or is expected to be claimed as a tax dependent on next year's tax return, this step-child/sibling will be included in the eligibility determination, as well.