CHIP income limits by state (2026)
By the MedicaidCalc Editorial Team · Published · Updated
The Children’s Health Insurance Program covers children whose families earn too much for Medicaid. Each state picks its own upper limit, so a family of four at $8,000 a month qualifies in some states and not others. The table gives each state’s highest limit for children — in Medicaid or CHIP, whichever reaches further — as a percentage of the 2026 poverty line and in dollars for a family of four.[1][3]
| State | Children’s program | Upper limit | Family of 4 / mo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | ALL Kids | 317% | $8,718 |
| Alaska | Denali KidCare | 208% | $7,150 |
| Arizona | KidsCare | 230% | $6,325 |
| Arkansas | ARKids First | 216% | $5,940 |
| California | Medi-Cal (CHIP-funded) | 266% | $7,315 |
| Colorado | CHP+ | 265% | $7,288 |
| Connecticut | HUSKY B | 323% | $8,883 |
| Delaware | Delaware Healthy Children Program | 217% | $5,968 |
| District of Columbia | DC Healthy Families (CHIP-funded) · inside Medicaid | 324% | $8,910 |
| Florida | Florida KidCare | 215% | $5,913 |
| Georgia | PeachCare for Kids | 252% | $6,930 |
| Hawaii | QUEST (CHIP-funded) | 313% | $9,899 |
| Idaho | Idaho CHIP | 190% | $5,225 |
| Illinois | All Kids | 318% | $8,745 |
| Indiana | Hoosier Healthwise (CHIP) | 255% | $7,013 |
| Iowa | Hawki | 307% | $8,443 |
| Kansas | KanCare CHIP | 255% | $7,013 |
| Kentucky | KCHIP | 218% | $5,995 |
| Louisiana | LaCHIP | 255% | $7,013 |
| Maine | MaineCare (CHIP-funded) · inside Medicaid | 305% | $8,388 |
| Maryland | Maryland Children’s Health Program | 322% | $8,855 |
| Massachusetts | MassHealth (CHIP) | 305% | $8,388 |
| Michigan | Medicaid (CHIP-funded) | 217% | $5,968 |
| Minnesota | Medical Assistance (CHIP-funded) · inside Medicaid | 288% | $7,920 |
| Mississippi | Mississippi CHIP | 214% | $5,885 |
| Missouri | MO HealthNet for Kids (CHIP) | 305% | $8,388 |
| Montana | Healthy Montana Kids | 266% | $7,315 |
| Nebraska | Kids Connection (CHIP) | 218% | $5,995 |
| Nevada | Nevada Check Up | 205% | $5,638 |
| New Hampshire | Medicaid (CHIP-funded) | 323% | $8,883 |
| New Jersey | NJ FamilyCare (CHIP) | 355% | $9,763 |
| New Mexico | Medicaid (CHIP-funded) | 305% | $8,388 |
| New York | Child Health Plus | 405% | $11,138 |
| North Carolina | Medicaid (CHIP-funded) · inside Medicaid | 216% | $5,940 |
| North Dakota | Medicaid (CHIP-funded) | 205% | $5,638 |
| Ohio | Healthy Start (CHIP-funded) | 211% | $5,803 |
| Oklahoma | SoonerCare (CHIP-funded) · inside Medicaid | 210% | $5,775 |
| Oregon | Oregon Health Plan (CHIP-funded) | 305% | $8,388 |
| Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania CHIP | 319% | $8,773 |
| Rhode Island | RIte Care | 266% | $7,315 |
| South Carolina | Partners for Healthy Children | 213% | $5,858 |
| South Dakota | Medicaid (CHIP) | 209% | $5,748 |
| Tennessee | CoverKids | 255% | $7,013 |
| Texas | Texas CHIP | 206% | $5,665 |
| Utah | Utah CHIP | 205% | $5,638 |
| Vermont | Dr. Dynasaur · inside Medicaid | 317% | $8,718 |
| Virginia | FAMIS | 205% | $5,638 |
| Washington | Apple Health for Kids (CHIP) | 317% | $8,718 |
| West Virginia | WVCHIP | 305% | $8,388 |
| Wisconsin | BadgerCare Plus (CHIP) | 306% | $8,415 |
| Wyoming | Kid Care CHIP | 205% | $5,638 |
Highest and lowest
New York (405%), New Jersey (355%) and District of Columbia (324%) reach furthest; Idaho (190%) and Wyoming (205%) stop lowest. Limits for infants are often higher than for older children: Iowa covers babies under one to 305% but school-age children in Medicaid only to 172% before its separate CHIP picks them up.[1]
Separate CHIP or CHIP inside Medicaid
States can spend CHIP money two ways. 45 states run a separate CHIP with its own name and rules; the rest use CHIP funds to extend Medicaid itself, so children get full Medicaid benefits and there is nothing extra to apply for. The difference matters for three rules:
- No other insurance. A separate CHIP generally cannot cover a child who already has health insurance — Mississippi, for example, turns away children who are insured when the application is filed.[5]
- Premiums. Separate CHIPs may charge monthly premiums. Kansas charges nothing up to 166% of the poverty line, then $20, $30 or $50 a month per family as income rises to 255%.[4]
- Age bands. In Delaware, Florida and Wisconsin the separate CHIP covers ages 1 through 18 only; babies stay in Medicaid.[1]
CHIP for pregnancy
About half the states use CHIP for pregnancy too. Some cover the pregnant person through a CHIP pregnancy group (Colorado, Missouri, Rhode Island, Virginia, West Virginia among them); others use the “from-conception” option, which covers the unborn child and so pays for prenatal care regardless of the parent’s immigration status — Texas calls it CHIP perinatal. The calculator labels from-conception coverage separately because it covers the pregnancy, not the parent’s other health care.[1]
How the limit is applied
CHIP uses the same income rules as Medicaid: monthly household modified adjusted gross income compared with the poverty line for the household size, with the 5-point disregard added at the top of the range.[6] A child’s own income usually does not count unless the child must file a tax return. How Medicaid counts income explains the household rules.
Ready to check a child? Use the calculator and tick the child’s age group.
Sources
- MACStats Exhibit 35: Medicaid and CHIP Income Eligibility Levels for Children and Pregnant Women by State — Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC); MACStats: Medicaid and CHIP Data Book, February 2026. Eligibility levels as of July 2025. Read October 5, 2026.
- Medicaid and CHIP income eligibility limits (children, pregnant individuals, adults), as of January 2026 — KFF State Health Facts (survey with the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families); KFF state indicators, timeframe "As of January 2026". January 2026. Read October 5, 2026.
- Annual Update of the HHS Poverty Guidelines (2026) — U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; 91 FR 1797, FR Doc. 2026-00755. Published January 15, 2026; effective January 13, 2026. Read October 5, 2026.
- Kansas Medical Assistance Standards (KEESM Appendix F-8, 04-26) — Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KanCare); F-8, updated April 1, 2026 — read from the Internet Archive copy captured May 20, 2026 because kancare.ks.gov refuses automated requests. April 1, 2026. Read October 5, 2026.
- Income Limits for Medicaid and CHIP Programs — Mississippi Division of Medicaid; medicaid.ms.gov. Effective March 1, 2026. Read October 5, 2026.
- 42 CFR 435.603(d)(4) — the 5 percentage point MAGI disregard — Electronic Code of Federal Regulations; 42 CFR 435.603; applied to CHIP by 42 CFR 457.315. eCFR as of October 1, 2026. Read October 5, 2026.