Maine CHIP: Children's Health Insurance Program

Last verified: June 2026

Informational overview of Maine CHIP

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

Maine's CHIP program is called Cub Care — it's integrated with MaineCare

Cub Care covers children up to age 19 whose family income is above the standard MaineCare limit but at or below 209% of the Federal Poverty Level. A single application through MyMaineConnection covers both MaineCare and Cub Care — the system determines which program your child qualifies for automatically. Apply at mymaineconnection.gov.

Who qualifies for Cub Care

Cub Care covers uninsured children under 19 living in Maine whose household income is above the MaineCare Medicaid limit for children but at or below 209% FPL. Maine integrates its CHIP program tightly with MaineCare — the income range for Medicaid-eligible children and CHIP-eligible children overlap at the same upper limit (209% FPL), so most children qualify for one program or the other through a single application.

Child must be under age 19
Family income at or below 209% FPL
Monthly income limit: approximately $2,624 for household of 1; $5,398 for household of 4 (2026)
Child must be a U.S. citizen, national, or qualifying immigrant
Child must reside in Maine
Child must not have other comprehensive health coverage available

Source: Maine DHHS OFI; 2026 HHS Federal Poverty Guidelines. Contact OFI at 1-855-797-4357 to confirm current limits for your household size.

Cub Care benefits and cost-sharing

Cub Care provides comprehensive coverage equivalent to MaineCare for children. The benefit package includes the same categories as the EPSDT children's benefit — doctor visits, dental, vision, mental health, prescriptions, and preventive care.

Maine's Cub Care has minimal cost-sharing. There are no premiums for most families. Small co-pays may apply for some services at higher income levels, but preventive care, well-child visits, and immunizations are generally not subject to cost-sharing. Federal CHIP rules cap annual family out-of-pocket costs at 5% of family income.

Well-child visits and developmental screenings
Immunizations
Doctor visits and specialist referrals
Prescriptions
Emergency and urgent care
Inpatient hospital care
Mental health and substance use services
Dental care (comprehensive EPSDT scope)
Vision care and eyeglasses
Physical, occupational, and speech therapy

How to apply for Cub Care

Apply through MyMaineConnection at mymaineconnection.gov. A single application screens for both MaineCare Medicaid and Cub Care CHIP. If your child's income falls in the Medicaid range, they're enrolled in MaineCare; if it falls in the CHIP range, they get Cub Care. You don't need to file separate applications.

You can also apply by calling OFI at 1-855-797-4357 or visiting a local OFI office. Applications are processed within 45 days under federal rules.

MaineCare vs. Cub Care: what changes at 209% FPL

Both MaineCare for children and Cub Care use the same 209% FPL upper income limit. The practical difference is the funding source — MaineCare below a certain threshold is 100% Medicaid-funded, while Cub Care above that threshold draws on the CHIP federal matching rate, which is higher than the standard Medicaid match. For families, both programs provide the same coverage.

Apply even if a parent is undocumented

Eligible children can apply for Cub Care regardless of the immigration status of their parents. Parents do not need to provide their own immigration documents when applying only for a child's coverage. This is standard Maine DHHS policy.

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 Maine CHIP

Apply through MaineCare (Maine 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.