Children's Health Insurance Plan Mississippi Eligibility Guidelines

The Children's Health Insurance Plan is a partnership between the state of Mississippi and the federal government that provides low-cost health insurance for children from whose families earn too much money to qualify for Medicaid but cannot afford private health coverage. CHIP is administered by the Mississippi Division of Medicaid.

Income Limits

• CHIP covers children from birth to the age of 19 years whose families' income is between 99 and 200 percent of the federal poverty guideline. The monthly income limit for a family of four in 2009-2010 is $3,675.

Other Factors

• CHIP eligibility is determined by family income, the age of each child and insurance status. Children on Medicaid do not qualify for CHIP. However, in some instances one child in the family may be eligible for Medicaid, while another child is eligible for CHIP.

Applications

• A parent or caretaker must apply in person for CHIP coverage for their children at the Medicaid Regional Office that serves the county in which they live. An in-person interview is conducted and a determination of eligibility is made by the Regional Office. Applications and additional information are available from the Mississippi Division of Medicaid.

Cost

• There are no deductibles or premiums for CHIP coverage in the state of Mississippi. Children from families with higher incomes may be required to make co-payments for some health care services.