Children's Health Insurance Program

The Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) is a federal-state health insurance program that provides health coverage to eligible children, including those with modest incomes and those who might not qualify for other health care programs. CHIP helps children gain access to preventive and primary health care services, such as doctor visits, lab tests, hospital stays, prescriptions, eye care, mental health services, and much more. With CHIP, families pay a modest monthly or annual premium, depending on household income and the state in which they live. For those with lower incomes and in some cases no premium is charged. In addition to regular health care, children may be eligible for dental, hearing, and vision services at no cost. CHIP is administered by state governments and funded through both federal and state funds.