Tennessee CHIP: Children's Health Insurance Program

Last verified: June 2026

Informational overview of Tennessee CHIP

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

Tennessee's CHIP program is called CoverKids — it covers children at 200%–250% FPL

CoverKids is Tennessee's Children's Health Insurance Program, covering children up to age 19 whose family income is above the TennCare Medicaid limit but at or below 250% of the Federal Poverty Level. CoverKids is administered by the Bureau of TennCare. Apply at tenncareconnect.tn.gov or call 1-855-259-0701.

Who qualifies for CoverKids

CoverKids covers uninsured children under 19 whose household income is above the TennCare Medicaid income limit but at or below 250% FPL. For a family of four, 250% FPL is approximately $80,000 per year (2025 FPL base). Children must be Tennessee residents and must not have access to other affordable government health coverage.

Child must be under age 19
Family income above TennCare Medicaid limit and at or below 250% FPL (approximately $80,000/yr for a family of 4)
Child must be a U.S. citizen, national, or qualified non-citizen
Child must reside in Tennessee
Child must not be enrolled in TennCare Medicaid or another government health program

Source: Bureau of TennCare CoverKids program information. Dollar amounts based on 2025 HHS FPL at 250%.

CoverKids premiums and cost-sharing

CoverKids charges monthly premiums based on family income. Premiums are generally modest — typically ranging from $10 to $35 per month per family, covering all eligible children in the household. Verify the exact premium at the time of application; amounts update when the FPL changes.

Small co-pays apply to some services. Preventive care and well-child visits are generally exempt from co-pays. Annual out-of-pocket costs are capped under federal CHIP rules — no family pays more than 5% of household income in total CHIP cost-sharing in a plan year.

What CoverKids covers

CoverKids provides comprehensive health benefits through the TennCare MCOs — BlueCare Tennessee, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan, and Wellpoint — the same plans used for standard TennCare.

Well-child checkups and immunizations
Primary care and specialist visits
Prescriptions (through OptumRx, the TennCare pharmacy benefit manager)
Emergency and urgent care
Inpatient hospital care
Mental health and behavioral health services
Dental care (including preventive, diagnostic, and restorative)
Vision care and eyeglasses
Physical, occupational, and speech therapy

How to apply for CoverKids

Apply for CoverKids through TennCare Connect at tenncareconnect.tn.gov. The same application covers TennCare Medicaid and CoverKids CHIP — the system determines which program your child qualifies for based on household income. You can also apply by calling 1-855-259-0701 or visiting a local Department of Human Services office (DHS has locations in all 95 Tennessee counties).

Tennessee also has the TennCare Connect mobile app available on iOS and Android, which allows you to complete and track your application.

Eligible children can apply regardless of parents' immigration status

Eligible children can apply for CoverKids regardless of their parents' citizenship or immigration status. Parents do not need to provide their own Social Security numbers when applying only for their children. This protection applies under federal CHIP rules.

CoverKids vs. TennCare: income limits for children

Program	Income limit	Premiums
TennCare Medicaid (children)	up to ~133% FPL	None
CoverKids (CHIP)	133%–250% FPL	$10–$35/mo

Source: Bureau of TennCare eligibility information. Children at or below approximately 133% FPL qualify for TennCare Medicaid (no premium). Children above this threshold and at or below 250% FPL qualify for CoverKids CHIP.

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 Tennessee CHIP

Apply through TennCare (Tennessee 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.