Minnesota CHIP: Children's Health Insurance Program

Last verified: June 2026

How Minnesota covers children at different income levels

Minnesota uses a tiered structure for children's health coverage. The tiers are based on family income as a percentage of the Federal Poverty Level:

Source: MN DHS eligibility documentation; MNsure. Verify current income limits at mn.gov/dhs. Income limits for children update annually in conjunction with federal FPL changes.

What children's coverage includes

All children covered through Medical Assistance receive full EPSDT benefits — the most comprehensive children's health benefit in U.S. public programs. EPSDT requires states to cover any medically necessary service for children under 21, regardless of whether the state plan covers that service for adults.

• Well-child visits and developmental screenings at every recommended age
• Immunizations on the CDC-recommended schedule
• Dental care — preventive, restorative, and orthodontic when medically necessary
• Vision care and eyeglasses
• Hearing exams and hearing aids
• Mental health services including therapy and psychiatry
• Physical, occupational, and speech therapy
• Specialist care and hospital services
• Prescription drugs on the MA formulary
• Behavioral health and substance use disorder treatment

Why Minnesota chose integration over a standalone CHIP program

Most states operate CHIP as a separate program with a distinct application. Minnesota took a different path: it uses federal CHIP Title XXI funding to extend MinnesotaCare to children above the MA income limit, keeping the administrative process unified. This means families submit one application and the system determines the right program automatically — reducing the "administrative churn" that causes children to lose coverage as family income fluctuates.

The practical effect for families: a child who gains or loses coverage as a parent's income rises or falls moves between MA and MinnesotaCare within the same system, rather than losing coverage entirely during a transition period.

How to apply for children's coverage in Minnesota

Apply online at mnsure.org, by phone at 1-800-657-3739, or at your county social services office. A single application covers both Medical Assistance and MinnesotaCare for children. Applications are accepted year-round — there is no enrollment period for public programs.

If a child's coverage was terminated during the post-pandemic unwinding period and the family believes the child is still eligible, reapply. Minnesota's continuous coverage period for children extended through mid-2024, and some terminations during that period were procedural rather than based on actual ineligibility.

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 Minnesota CHIP

Apply through Medical Assistance (Minnesota 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.