Utah CHIP: Children's Health Insurance Program

Last verified: June 2026

Informational overview of Utah CHIP

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

Utah operates a separate CHIP program for children above Medicaid income limits

Utah's CHIP program provides low-cost health coverage for children in families with income above standard Medicaid limits. Apply through the same portal as Medicaid at jobs.utah.gov/mycase or call 1-800-662-9651. The application determines whether your child qualifies for CHIP or full Medicaid.

Utah's CHIP program for children

Utah's Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) provides coverage for uninsured children from birth through age 18 in families with income above standard Medicaid income thresholds but below the CHIP ceiling. Utah operates CHIP as a separate CHIP — distinct from Medicaid — meaning children in the CHIP income tier may have slightly different benefits or cost-sharing than children in the lower-income Medicaid tier. The application process is the same.

Utah CHIP provides comprehensive health benefits including physical health, dental, vision, behavioral health, prescriptions, and preventive care. Children in CHIP may have small co-pays for some services and a monthly premium at higher income levels, though both are capped per federal CHIP cost-sharing rules (5% of family income annually).

Per DHHS, the single application at jobs.utah.gov/mycase simultaneously screens for both Utah Medicaid and CHIP eligibility — families don't need to determine in advance which program their child qualifies for.

CHIP income eligibility and premiums

Utah CHIP covers children in families with income above standard Medicaid thresholds — approximately up to 200% FPL for children's Medicaid, with CHIP extending coverage at higher income levels. Specific income limits vary by age group and update annually. Call 1-800-662-9651 or visit medicaid.utah.gov for the current income chart.

Monthly premiums for Utah CHIP are income-based and generally small. As with most CHIP programs, the 5% annual household income cost-sharing cap limits what families pay in premiums and co-pays combined. Contact DHHS for the current CHIP premium schedule.

What Utah CHIP covers for children

Children in Utah CHIP receive comprehensive coverage. CHIP benefits for members under age 21 are governed by the federal EPSDT mandate (42 U.S.C. § 1396d(r)) for services crossing into Medicaid, and state-defined benefits for the CHIP tier. Covered services include:

Well-child visits and preventive screenings at no additional cost
Immunizations per the CDC schedule
Vision — eye exams and eyeglasses
Dental — comprehensive pediatric dental coverage
Hearing screenings and hearing aids when medically necessary
Mental and behavioral health services
Prescription medications
Hospital care, specialist visits, and laboratory services
Physical, occupational, and speech therapy

Enrolling a child in Utah CHIP or Medicaid

Apply any time — Utah Medicaid and CHIP enrollment is year-round. A child who loses employer-sponsored coverage has a special enrollment window; apply within 60 days of losing coverage. Newborns born to Utah Medicaid-enrolled mothers are automatically enrolled in Medicaid from birth.

Children enrolled in Utah Medicaid or CHIP in the Wasatch Front region (Salt Lake, Utah, Davis, Weber, and Iron counties) may be enrolled in Utah Medicaid Integrated Care (UMIC) managed care. UMIC members are assigned to a primary care provider. Outside those counties, children are covered through fee-for-service Utah Medicaid and can see any enrolled provider directly.

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 Utah CHIP

Apply through Utah 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.