Medicaid and CHIP
State-run coverage for people with low income, and separate coverage for children in families that earn too much for Medicaid.
Best for
Households with limited income, and any family with uninsured children.
Why Kave includes this
CHIP income limits are far higher than most parents assume, so uninsured children frequently qualify in families that were certain they would not. Kave surfaces Medicaid and CHIP together for that reason, and because enrolment is open year-round rather than only during open enrolment.
- Expected cost
- Free or very low cost. CHIP may involve small premiums or copays depending on the state.
- Insurance requirement
- For uninsured or underinsured households.
- Who qualifies
- Set by each state, based on household income and size. Children usually qualify at considerably higher income levels than adults.
- Where it is available
- Nationwide (United States)
- How you use it
- Online or by phone and In person
- Languages
- English and Spanish
Limitations Kave wants you to know about
- Adult eligibility differs sharply between states that expanded Medicaid and those that did not.
- Not every provider accepts Medicaid.
- Applications require income and identity documentation.
Insure Kids Now line for children's coverage.
Verification
Compiled by Kave on July 1, 2026 and link-checked. Not yet independently verified. Kave assembled this from the organisation’s own published material and confirmed the links resolve. No reviewer has confirmed the eligibility details against the source, so check them on the official site before you rely on them.
- Compiled
- July 1, 2026 (28 days ago)
- Next scheduled review
- September 29, 2026
- Reviewed by
- Not yet reviewed
Sources used
- Medicaid.gov — where to get help — read July 1, 2026
Kave quality score
89/100
Kave lists resources scoring 80 or above that also clear all four mandatory gates.
- Patient impact24/25
- Affordability or financial value19.6/20
- Accessibility12.3/15
- Transparency11.7/15
- Ease of use6.8/10
- Geographic reach5/5
- Institutional credibility5/5
- Privacy and data practices4.4/5
Geographic reach is deliberately worth only five points, so a strong local resource is not pushed out by a weak national one. Read the methodology.