Health insurance for kids comes from three main sources: Medicaid for lower-income families, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for families who earn too much for Medicaid, and a parent’s Marketplace or job-based plan. You can apply for Medicaid and CHIP any time of year, and CHIP costs are capped at 5% of family income.
Updated October 2026 for the 2027 plan year
Key facts (2027 plan year)
- You can apply for and enroll in Medicaid or CHIP any time of year (HealthCare.gov).
- Total CHIP premiums and cost-sharing can’t exceed 5% of family income for the year (HealthCare.gov).
- Medicaid and CHIP eligibility for children ranges from about 170% to 400% of the federal poverty level, depending on the state (Medicaid.gov).
- Since January 1, 2024, children under 19 get 12 months of continuous eligibility in Medicaid and CHIP (Medicaid.gov).
- Pediatric services, including oral and vision care, are an essential health benefit on every Marketplace plan (HealthCare.gov).
- For 2027, family members can get Marketplace savings when job-based family coverage costs more than 10.22% of household income (HealthCare.gov).
- Children can stay on a parent’s plan until age 26 (HealthCare.gov).
What are the options for health insurance for kids?
Most children get covered through Medicaid, CHIP, a parent’s employer plan or a Marketplace plan. Which one your child qualifies for depends mainly on household income, household size and your state’s rules, not on whether a parent works.
Children qualify for public coverage at much higher incomes than adults. Many families who earn too much for Medicaid themselves still have kids who qualify for Medicaid or CHIP. That’s why it pays to apply even if you think your income is too high: one application on HealthCare.gov or your state’s exchange screens every family member for Medicaid, CHIP and Marketplace savings at once.
If your children don’t qualify for Medicaid or CHIP, a Marketplace plan with a premium tax credit is the next stop. Every Marketplace plan covers pediatric care, including children’s dental and vision care, as an essential health benefit.
What is CHIP insurance?
CHIP insurance is the Children’s Health Insurance Program, a joint federal and state program that covers uninsured children in families that earn too much for Medicaid but can’t easily afford private coverage. In some states it also covers pregnant women.
Each state runs its own CHIP, often under its own name. Some states run CHIP as part of Medicaid, some run a separate program, and some do both. HealthCare.gov says that while CHIP benefits are different in each state, all states provide comprehensive coverage, including:
- Routine checkups and immunizations
- Doctor visits and hospital care
- Prescriptions
- Dental and vision care
- Lab and X-ray services
- Emergency services
- Behavioral health care
How much does CHIP cost?
Routine well-child doctor and dental visits are free under CHIP. Some states charge a monthly premium or copays for other services, but your family won’t pay more than 5% of its income for the year. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) applies that 5% cap to all premiums, deductibles, copayments and coinsurance combined.
CHIP vs. Medicaid vs. Marketplace: which fits your child?
Medicaid covers children in the lowest-income families at little or no cost. CHIP picks up where Medicaid stops. A Marketplace plan covers children whose family income is above CHIP limits, or families who prefer one plan for everyone.
| Feature | Medicaid | CHIP | Marketplace plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who it’s for | Children in lower-income households | Children above Medicaid limits, up to the state’s CHIP limit | Any child in a household that buys a plan |
| Income limits | Set by each state | Roughly 170%–400% FPL across states | Premium tax credits from 100% to 400% FPL |
| When you can enroll | Any time | Any time | Open Enrollment or a Special Enrollment Period |
| Costs | Little or nothing | Capped at 5% of family income | Premium after credit, plus deductible and copays |
| Dental and vision | Included for children | Included | Pediatric dental and vision are essential benefits |
| Continuous coverage | 12 months for children under 19 | 12 months for children under 19 | Plan year, if premiums are paid |
Not sure where your income lands? Our 2027 health insurance subsidies guide has the 2026 poverty guidelines used for 2027 coverage.
When can I get health insurance for my kids?
You can apply for Medicaid and CHIP any day of the year; there’s no enrollment deadline. Marketplace plans are different: you enroll during Open Enrollment or within a Special Enrollment Period after a qualifying life event.
Open Enrollment for 2027 Marketplace coverage runs November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027 in HealthCare.gov states. Enroll by December 15, 2026 for coverage that starts January 1, 2027. See Open Enrollment 2027 for state exchange dates.
A birth, adoption or foster placement is a qualifying life event that opens a Special Enrollment Period, so you can add a new child to a Marketplace plan outside Open Enrollment (HealthCare.gov). Losing other coverage, such as a parent’s job-based plan, also qualifies. Read our Special Enrollment Period guide for the full list.
Twelve months of continuous coverage
Once your child is enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP, coverage generally stays in place for 12 months even if your income changes. Medicaid.gov confirms that effective January 1, 2024, states are required to provide 12 months of continuous eligibility for children under 19 in Medicaid and CHIP. A raise mid-year won’t knock your child off.
Honesty.AI checks every family member’s eligibility, then compares Marketplace plans if they don’t.
CHIP program names by state
Most states give CHIP its own name, which is why parents searching for “CHIP insurance” often can’t find it. Here are the children’s coverage programs in the 31 states where Honesty helps most, each checked on the state’s official site in October 2026.
| State | Children’s program | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | ALL Kids | Run by the Alabama Department of Public Health |
| Arizona | KidsCare | Part of AHCCCS, Arizona’s Medicaid agency |
| Arkansas | ARKids First | Arkansas Department of Human Services |
| California | Medi-Cal | CHIP runs inside Medi-Cal |
| Colorado | Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) | Also covers some pregnant people |
| Florida | Florida KidCare | Umbrella for MediKids, Florida Healthy Kids and children’s Medicaid |
| Georgia | PeachCare for Kids | Georgia Department of Community Health |
| Illinois | All Kids | Illinois HFS |
| Indiana | Hoosier Healthwise | CHIP is Package C |
| Kentucky | KCHIP | Apply through kynect |
| Louisiana | LaCHIP | Louisiana Department of Health |
| Maryland | Maryland Children’s Health Program (MCHP) | Delivered through HealthChoice plans |
| Massachusetts | MassHealth | No separate CHIP brand |
| Michigan | MIChild and Healthy Kids | Michigan DHHS |
| Minnesota | Medical Assistance | Minnesota’s Medicaid and CHIP |
| Mississippi | CHIP | Mississippi Division of Medicaid |
| Missouri | MO HealthNet for Kids | Missouri Department of Social Services |
| Nevada | Nevada Check Up | Separate CHIP |
| New Jersey | NJ FamilyCare | Covers both Medicaid and CHIP |
| North Carolina | NC Medicaid | NC Health Choice moved into Medicaid in April 2023 |
| Ohio | Healthy Start (Ohio Medicaid) | CHIP runs through Medicaid |
| Oklahoma | SoonerCare | CHIP is part of SoonerCare |
| Oregon | Oregon Health Plan | CHIP runs inside OHP |
| Pennsylvania | CHIP | Apply through COMPASS |
| South Carolina | Partners for Healthy Children | Part of Healthy Connections Medicaid |
| Tennessee | CoverKids | Also covers some pregnant women |
| Texas | CHIP and Children’s Medicaid | Texas Health and Human Services |
| Utah | CHIP | Utah DHHS |
| Virginia | FAMIS | Apply through Cover Virginia |
| Washington | Apple Health for Kids | Washington Health Care Authority |
| Wisconsin | BadgerCare Plus | Funded by Medicaid and CHIP |
Income limits and premiums change, so confirm current rules on your state’s site or apply through the Marketplace. For state-specific help, see our guides for Florida, Texas and Georgia.
How does the family glitch fix help kids get coverage?
The family glitch fix lets spouses and children get Marketplace savings when a parent’s job-based family coverage is too expensive, even if the worker’s own coverage is affordable. For 2027, family coverage counts as unaffordable when it costs more than 10.22% of household income.
Before the fix, affordability for the whole family was judged on the employee-only premium. A parent could have “affordable” single coverage while the family premium ate a large share of income, and the kids were locked out of subsidies. Now HealthCare.gov checks family members separately: when the job offer comes from a household member’s employer, affordability is based on the premium to cover everyone in the household.
The result can be a split household. The worker keeps the employer plan, and the spouse and children buy a subsidized Marketplace plan, or the children enroll in CHIP or Medicaid. Our 2027 health insurance cost guide explains what drives the price.
How do I cover my kids on a Marketplace plan?
List every child in your household on your Marketplace application. The application decides who qualifies for Medicaid or CHIP and who should be on the Marketplace plan with a premium tax credit.
All Marketplace plans include pediatric services, with children’s dental and vision care listed as an essential health benefit. Some plans include pediatric dental directly; others pair with a separate dental plan, so check the plan details.
Watch the family numbers too. For 2027 the federal out-of-pocket maximum is $12,000 for one person and $24,000 for a family. Our deductible vs. out-of-pocket maximum guide explains how family deductibles work, and how to choose a health plan helps you pick a metal level.
Young adults up to 26
Children can stay on a parent’s plan until 26, even if they marry, move out, aren’t claimed as a dependent or turn down job coverage. On a Marketplace plan, a young adult can stay covered through December 31 of the year they turn 26 (HealthCare.gov).
What if parents and kids qualify for different coverage?
It’s common, and it’s fine. Children often qualify for Medicaid or CHIP while their parents buy a Marketplace plan or keep job-based coverage, because children’s income limits are higher.
In states that didn’t expand Medicaid, the gap can be wide. A parent may earn too little for a premium tax credit yet too much for adult Medicaid, while the kids qualify for CHIP. If that sounds like your family, read our affordable health insurance guide.
Lost a job? Health coverage for the whole family can change at once. See health insurance for unemployed families.
How Honesty helps you cover your kids
Honesty®, a licensed AI insurance agent from Honesty® Insurance Services, LLC (NPN 21094885), screens each family member for Medicaid and CHIP, applies the family glitch rules and compares Marketplace plans for the people who need one. It compares ACA, alternative and ancillary plans, including dental and vision, and works for you, not the carriers. We never sell or share your data.
Find the right health insurance for your kids
Honesty.AI is the world’s first patented, licensed AI insurance agent. It checks CHIP, Medicaid and subsidies for every family member, compares plans for your family’s needs and can enroll you, 24/7 by chat, voice or text.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best health insurance for kids?
If your children qualify, Medicaid or CHIP usually costs the least and includes dental and vision care. If they don’t, a Marketplace plan with a premium tax credit or a parent’s job-based family plan is the next option.
What is CHIP insurance?
CHIP is the Children’s Health Insurance Program, a federal and state program for uninsured children in families that earn too much for Medicaid. Each state runs its own version, often under its own name, such as PeachCare for Kids or Florida KidCare.
Can I enroll my child in CHIP any time of year?
Yes. You can apply for and enroll in Medicaid or CHIP any time of year. Marketplace plans require Open Enrollment or a Special Enrollment Period.
How much does CHIP cost?
Well-child doctor and dental visits are free. Some states charge premiums or copays for other services, but total costs can’t exceed 5% of your family’s income for the year.
Can my kids get CHIP if I have insurance through work?
Often, yes. A parent’s job-based coverage doesn’t by itself rule children out; eligibility depends on household income and your state’s rules. If job-based family coverage costs more than 10.22% of household income in 2027, your children may also qualify for Marketplace savings.
How long can my child stay on my health insurance?
Until age 26. On a Marketplace plan, coverage can continue through December 31 of the year your child turns 26, even if they marry, move out or aren’t your tax dependent.
Dental coverage for children is an essential health benefit on the Marketplace; our dental insurance guide explains pediatric dental, separate dental plans and waiting periods.
Every Marketplace plan includes pediatric vision care; our vision insurance guide explains what children get and how adult vision coverage differs.
Keep learning: Special Enrollment Periods, 2027 subsidies, Open Enrollment 2027, health insurance for pregnant women and how Honesty.AI works.
