Missouri CHIP: Children's Health Insurance Program

Last verified: June 2026

Informational overview of Missouri CHIP

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

Missouri's CHIP program is MO HealthNet for Kids — covers children in families up to 300% FPL

Missouri covers children through MO HealthNet for Kids, which includes both Medicaid-funded and CHIP-funded coverage for children up to age 19 in families with income up to 300% FPL ($93,600/year for a family of four in 2025). Apply at mydssapp.mo.gov or call 855-373-9994.

MO HealthNet for Kids: Missouri's children's coverage program

Missouri covers children through MO HealthNet for Kids, which provides both Medicaid and CHIP-funded coverage for uninsured children under age 19. Missouri's CHIP program is a CHIP Medicaid expansion program — it operates through the same administrative infrastructure as adult MO HealthNet but with separate federal funding for children between 133% and 300% FPL.

Missouri also operates Show Me Healthy Babies, which extends pregnancy coverage through the first 12 months of the child's life for women covered under Missouri's CHIP-funded pregnancy program. Show Me Healthy Babies income limit is 300% FPL — the same as MO HealthNet for Kids.

Missouri's 300% FPL income limit for children's coverage is relatively generous — many states stop CHIP eligibility at 200%–250% FPL. A family of four with income up to roughly $93,600 (2025) may qualify for coverage.

MO HealthNet for Kids income eligibility

Population	Income Limit	Notes
Children 0–18	Up to 300% FPL	Medicaid-funded below ~133%, CHIP-funded 133–300%
Pregnant women (Show Me Healthy Babies)	Up to 300% FPL	Extended through 60 days postpartum

Source: Missouri DSS MO HealthNet for Kids program documentation; KFF State Health Facts Medicaid/CHIP income eligibility table. FPL dollar amounts update annually in January. Verify current dollar thresholds with DSS.

Benefits for children under MO HealthNet for Kids

Children in MO HealthNet for Kids receive comprehensive coverage under EPSDT. Benefits include:

Well-child visits and preventive care (EPSDT screenings)
Sick visits and specialist care
Comprehensive dental — exams, cleanings, fillings, extractions, orthodontics when necessary
Vision — eye exams and glasses
Mental health and substance use disorder services
Prescription drugs
Hospital care — inpatient and outpatient
Emergency services
Therapy services — physical, occupational, speech-language
Durable medical equipment (DME)

Premiums and cost sharing

MO HealthNet for Kids has no premiums for children in families at or below 150% FPL. Children in families between 150% and 300% FPL enrolled in the CHIP-funded component may pay modest premiums. Federal law limits CHIP family cost sharing to 5% of annual income across all Medicaid and CHIP costs combined.

Missouri does not charge co-pays for most preventive services for children. Contact the MO HealthNet Division at 855-373-9994 for current premium and co-pay information for your family's income level.

How to enroll a child

Apply for MO HealthNet for Kids at mydssapp.mo.gov, by calling 855-373-9994, or in person at your local Family Support Division (FSD) office. Children born to MO HealthNet-enrolled mothers are automatically enrolled at birth. Children who lose employer-sponsored insurance may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period — contact DSS within 60 days of losing other coverage.

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 Missouri CHIP

Apply through MO HealthNet (Missouri 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.