Louisiana CHIP: Children's Health Insurance Program

Last verified: June 2026

Informational overview of Louisiana CHIP

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

Louisiana's CHIP program is called LaCHIP — it covers children up to 212% FPL through the same MCOs as adult Medicaid

LaCHIP (Louisiana Children's Health Insurance Program) operates through the five Healthy Louisiana managed care organizations. Children in households earning up to 212% of the Federal Poverty Level qualify. The same application, the same MCOs, and the same provider networks serve LaCHIP and standard Healthy Louisiana members — making the system seamless for families with children at different income levels.

What is LaCHIP?

LaCHIP is Louisiana's Title XXI Children's Health Insurance Program. It covers children under 19 whose family income is above the standard Healthy Louisiana Medicaid limit but at or below 212% FPL. Because Louisiana uses the same MCO infrastructure for LaCHIP as for adult Medicaid, children in LaCHIP are enrolled in the same plans — Aetna Better Health, AmeriHealth Caritas, Healthy Blue, Louisiana Healthcare Connections, or UnitedHealthcare Community Plan — and access the same provider networks.

LaCHIP also covers children at or below 212% FPL who might otherwise qualify for marketplace insurance — Louisiana routes them into LaCHIP when income-eligible rather than the marketplace. A single application through benefitsgateway.org screens for all programs.

Who qualifies for LaCHIP

Child must be under age 19
Child must be a Louisiana resident
Child must be a U.S. citizen, national, or qualified noncitizen
Household income at or below 212% FPL
Child must not have access to employer-sponsored insurance at or below 5% of household income
Child must not be enrolled in Medicare or another state health insurance program

Children at or below the standard Healthy Louisiana income limit qualify for full Medicaid — no premium. Children in the LaCHIP income band (above Medicaid but at or below 212% FPL) may have minimal cost-sharing. Federal CHIP rules cap annual family cost-sharing at 5% of household income.

What LaCHIP covers

LaCHIP provides the same benefit package as Healthy Louisiana Medicaid for children, including the full EPSDT benefit for children under 21.

Well-child visits and developmental screenings
Immunizations on the recommended schedule
Dental care — comprehensive, including orthodontics when medically necessary
Vision care and eyeglasses
Mental health and behavioral health services
Primary care, specialist care, and hospital services
Prescriptions
Emergency and urgent care
Physical, occupational, and speech therapy
Home health services when medically necessary

How LaCHIP handles the transition from Medicaid to CHIP

A child whose family income rises above the standard Medicaid limit but stays below 212% FPL does not lose coverage — they transition from Medicaid to LaCHIP. Because both programs use the same MCOs, the child's plan, providers, and benefit structure remain the same. This reduces the disruption that families often experience when coverage categories change.

Similarly, a child whose family income drops back below the Medicaid limit transitions from LaCHIP back to Medicaid within the same plan. LDH manages this transition automatically when eligibility is redetermined — families do not need to reapply.

How to apply for LaCHIP

Apply online at benefitsgateway.org, by phone at 1-888-342-6207, or at your local DCFS office. The same application covers both Healthy Louisiana Medicaid and LaCHIP. The system determines eligibility automatically based on household income. There is no enrollment period — apply any time of year.

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 Louisiana CHIP

Apply through Louisiana Medicaid — 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.