Texas CHIP: Children's Health Insurance & How to Apply
Last updated: September 26, 2026 - By O.B.
In Texas, the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) is administered by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), providing low-cost health coverage to children in families who earn too much for Medicaid but cannot afford private insurance.
What is CHIP in Texas?
Texas CHIP provides comprehensive health coverage for children up to age 19, including checkups, prescriptions, and dental and vision care. Families may pay a small annual enrollment fee and co-pays based on income.
Who is eligible?
CHIP covers children up to age 19 in families that earn too much to qualify for Medicaid but still need affordable coverage. Income limits depend on family size and are higher than for adult Medicaid. Some families pay a small enrollment fee or co-pay.
2026 income limits
Texas HHSC publishes CHIP's monthly income limit as 201% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), effective April 1, 2026 (Texas Works Handbook, C-131.1):
- Family size 1: $2,674
- Family size 2: $3,625
- Family size 3: $4,577
- Family size 4: $5,528
- Family size 5: $6,479
- Family size 6: $7,431
- Family size 7: $8,382
- Family size 8: $9,334
- For each additional person, add $952.
A separate program, CHIP Perinatal, covers the unborn children of pregnant women who do not qualify for Medicaid and have no other health coverage. It has its own, slightly higher income limit (202% of FPL) and is not covered in detail on this page — see the official source below.
Worked example: A family of 3 with one working parent and monthly household income of $3,500. Texas Medicaid's own children's income limits for a family of that size are $3,028 (ages 6-18, 133% FPL) and $3,279 (ages 1-5, 144% FPL) - both below $3,500 - but the CHIP limit of $4,577 is above it, so these children would likely qualify for CHIP rather than Medicaid. HHSC makes the final determination.
What we could not verify
- Texas HHSC's handbook also lists a federal income disregard equal to 5 percentage points of the FPL (C-131.4), but under federal rule (42 CFR 435.603(d)(4)) that disregard applies only when determining eligibility for the state's single highest-income MAGI group. Texas's highest published limit in this chart is 413% FPL (TP 70), not CHIP's 201% - so no disregard has been added to the CHIP figures above.
- CHIP Perinatal's own income chart and the exact dollar amounts for its enrollment fees and co-pays are not published on this page.
- Whether HHSC has published a chart dated later than April 1, 2026.
What does CHIP cover?
- Regular checkups and well-child visits
- Immunizations and preventive care
- Prescriptions
- Dental and vision care
- Hospital and emergency services
- Mental health services
How to apply
- Online: Your Texas Benefits
- By phone: 2-1-1 (or 1-877-541-7905)
- In person: at a local Texas office
- Federal Marketplace: HealthCare.gov
Not sure which benefits you qualify for?
Benefit Guardian helps you check eligibility for CHIP, Medicaid, SNAP, and other programs in minutes.
Check the official program page →Official source
For the most accurate and current information, visit the official Texas CHIP site at hhs.texas.gov or the federal InsureKidsNow.gov.