Where you live in the US makes a big difference in the level of health coverage assistance your children can receive from government-sponsored programs, according to the Foundation for Health Coverage Education (FHCE).Responding to reports that 1 in 6 children in the U.S. is uninsured, the non-profit (www.CoverageForAll.org), whose mission is to educate the uninsured, has ranked states by their Children's Health Insurance Programs' maximum income limits that would allow their children to be eligible for free or low-cost coverage.
"The good news is that, by law, there is a CHIP program in every state. What we've found is most families are surprised at the income level they can make - as much as$78,000annually inNew Jersey- and still qualify their children," saidPhil Lebherz, founder and executive director. "Unfortunately, because each state's CHIP program has income limits that vary, it's difficult for families to know that, in times of need, their children could qualify for this comprehensive coverage." To remedy this situation, FHCE created a five-question Health Coverage Eligibility Quiz on its CoverageForAll.org website, where, in minutes, families can learn if they are eligible for public coverage in their state.
To identify all 50 states' eligibility levels, the nonprofit ranked them in order of each state's maximum annual income limit a family of four can make and still qualify for free or low-cost CHIP coverage. The following ranking is by highest to lowest allowable income.
State-by-State Income Limit Ranking
Ranking
State
Annual Income
CHIP Program
1
New York
Up to $89,400
Child Health Plus
2
New Jersey
Up to $78,225
FamilyCare
3
Hawaii
Up to $77,148
QUEST & QExA
4
Vermont
Up to $67,350
Dr. Dynasaur
5
Oregon
Up to $67,248
Oregon Healthy Kids
6
Washington
Up to $67,050
Apple Health
(tied with)
Alabama
ALL Kids
Connecticut
Husky Program
D.C.
Healthy Families
Illinois
ALL Kids
Iowa
Hawk-I
Massachusetts
Mass Health Family Assistance*
Missouri
MO HealthNet for Kids
New Hampshire
Healthy Kids
Pennsylvania
CHIP
West Virginia
West Virginia CHIP
7
Minnesota
Up to $61,488
MinnesotaCare
8
California
Up to $55,884
Healthy Families
(tied with)
Colorado
Child Health Plan Plus
Indiana
Hoosier Healthwise
9
Montana
Up to $55,875
Healthy Montana Kids
(tied with)
Rhode Island
RIteCare
Tennessee
CoverKids
10
Kansas
Up to $53,148
HealthWave 21
11
New Mexico
Up to $52,548
New Mexikids
12
Georgia
Up to $52,523
PeachCare
13
Alaska
Up to $48,900
Denali Kid Care
14
Nebraska
Up to $44,712
Kids Connection
15
Arkansas
Up to $44,700
ARKids First
(tied with)
Delaware
DE Healthy Children Program
Florida
KidCare
Kentucky
KCHIP
Louisiana
LaCHIP
Maryland
MCHP
Michigan
MIChild
Mississippi
CHIP
Nevada
Check Up
North Carolina
Health Choice for Children
Ohio
Healthy Start
South Carolina
Partners for Healthy Children
South Dakota
CHIP
Texas
CHIP
Utah
CHIP
Virginia
FAMIS
Wisconsin
Badger Care Plus
Wyoming
KidCare CHIP
16
Arizona
Up to $44,100
KidsCare
17
Idaho
Up to $41,352
ID Health Plan for Kids-CHIP
18
Oklahoma
Up to $41,348
SoonerCare
19
Maine
Up to $40,008
MaineCare/CubCare
20
North Dakota
Up to $35,760
Healthy Steps
* In Massachusetts, Medicaid and the CHIP Program are combined into one program called Mass Health. (Source: Mass.gov)
Families with incomes that exceed their state's Medicaid program eligibility requirements are urged to check eligibility for their state's Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Each state, includingWashington D.C., is required by law to have a CHIP program to accommodate these families with slightly higher income levels by offering coverage for free or at a low-cost.
"Our data collection indicates that more than half the states currently have CHIP programs with maximum income limits over the recently reported average family income of$49,500a year. What this could mean is families with uninsured children in these states may be eligible for free or low-cost comprehensive health coverage and not know it," said Lebherz.
To check a child's eligibility for Medicaid, CHIP, and other underutilized public programs, visit FHCE's website,www.CoverageForAll.org, and take the Health Coverage Eligibility Quiz.
About FHCE
The Foundation for Health Coverage Education (FHCE) is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization with the mission to simplify public and private health insurance eligibility information in order for more people to access coverage. In addition to its U.S. Uninsured Help Line 800-234-1317 and website,www.CoverageForAll.org, FHCE offers printed health coverage materials, such as the Health Care Options Matrix, available for all 50 states.
SAN JOSE, Calif.,Feb. 6, 2012/PRNewswire/ --FHCE