Alabama CHIP: Children's Health Insurance Program

Last verified: June 2026

Informational overview of Alabama CHIP

For current eligibility thresholds and enrollment, visit https://medicaid.alabama.gov. CHIP and Medicaid applications are processed together in most states — apply once and both programs are considered.

Alabama's CHIP program is called ALL Kids — it covers children through 312% FPL with low sliding-scale premiums

ALL Kids is Alabama's Children's Health Insurance Program, covering uninsured children under 19 whose family income exceeds the Alabama Medicaid limit but falls at or below 312% of the Federal Poverty Level. Premiums are charged on a sliding scale based on family income and are among the lowest in the state's public programs. Apply at the Alabama Medicaid Agency website or through your county DHR office.

What is ALL Kids?

ALL Kids — Alabama's Low-Income Kids program — is Alabama's Title XXI Children's Health Insurance Program. It was established to cover children in the gap between the standard Alabama Medicaid income limit (approximately 146% FPL for children) and 312% FPL. Children at or below the lower threshold qualify for full Alabama Medicaid with no premium. Children above that threshold but at or below 312% FPL qualify for ALL Kids with a sliding-scale premium.

At 312% FPL, Alabama ALL Kids covers children at higher family incomes than many other non-expansion states. For a family of four, 312% FPL equals roughly $100,000 annually (2025 federal poverty levels). This generous upper limit reflects a state policy choice to invest in children's health coverage even where adult coverage remains narrow.

Who qualifies for ALL Kids

Child must be under age 19
Child must be an Alabama resident
Child must be a U.S. citizen, national, or qualified noncitizen
Household income above the standard Alabama Medicaid limit and at or below 312% FPL
Child must not have access to employer-sponsored health insurance that provides coverage
Child must not currently be enrolled in another government health insurance program

Children who are below the Medicaid income threshold qualify for regular Alabama Medicaid (no premium). ALL Kids covers the gap between Medicaid and 312% FPL. If you are unsure which program your child qualifies for, apply and let the Alabama Medicaid Agency determine eligibility.

ALL Kids premiums

ALL Kids charges monthly premiums on a sliding scale based on family income. Premiums are low and are designed to be affordable for working families. Federal CHIP law caps cost-sharing for CHIP families at 5% of household income annually.

Exact premium amounts vary by family income level and are set by the Alabama Medicaid Agency. Your approval letter will show the premium for your household. Premiums must be paid on time to maintain coverage — ALL Kids may disenroll children for non-payment, though there is typically a grace period.

What ALL Kids covers

ALL Kids provides comprehensive coverage equivalent to standard Alabama Medicaid for children, including the EPSDT benefit.

Well-child visits and preventive checkups
Immunizations
Dental care — preventive, restorative, and medically necessary orthodontics
Vision exams and eyeglasses
Mental health services
Prescriptions
Emergency and urgent care
Inpatient hospital care
Specialist referrals
Physical, occupational, and speech therapy

How to apply for ALL Kids

Apply for ALL Kids at medicaid.alabama.gov or at your county DHR office. The application screens for both Alabama Medicaid and ALL Kids simultaneously — you do not need to apply separately. You can also call the Alabama Medicaid Agency at 1-800-362-1504 for assistance.

If you applied through healthcare.gov and were found eligible for CHIP, your application is forwarded to the Alabama Medicaid Agency. You may be contacted by DHR to provide additional documentation before coverage is confirmed.

What CHIP is

CHIP — the Children's Health Insurance Program — is a federal-state partnership that covers children in families whose income is too high for Medicaid but too low to afford private insurance. Congress created CHIP in 1997 under Title XXI of the Social Security Act. Like Medicaid, CHIP is jointly funded by the federal government and each state, and each state administers its own program.

CHIP serves children up to age 19 (some states cover to 21 for children in foster care). It is not available to adults — CHIP is specifically designed to address the coverage gap for children in working families.

Nationally, CHIP covers approximately 7 million children, according to CMS data. In most states, it is a seamless part of the broader children's health coverage system alongside Medicaid.

What CHIP covers

Federal law requires CHIP to cover certain core benefits. States may add to the list. Standard CHIP coverage includes:

Doctor visits, including well-child checkups and sick visits
Hospital care — inpatient and outpatient
Emergency room and urgent care services
Prescription drug coverage
Mental health and substance use disorder services
Dental care — preventive and restorative
Vision care, including eye exams and glasses
Laboratory and imaging services
Physical, occupational, and speech therapy
Medical equipment, such as wheelchairs or hearing aids when medically necessary

How to apply for Alabama CHIP

Apply through Alabama Medicaid Agency — the same application covers both Medicaid and CHIP. Online applications are typically fastest and allow document uploads. You can also apply by phone or in person at a local eligibility office.

See the how to apply page for the complete application process, required documents, and what to expect during review.

CHIP and Medicaid income ranges overlap — apply regardless

If you're not sure whether your child qualifies for Medicaid or CHIP, apply anyway. The eligibility system determines which program applies based on your income. A child who earns out of Medicaid may qualify for CHIP, and vice versa. Don't let uncertainty about which program applies prevent you from applying.