LaCHIP

LaCHIP is a health insurance program designed to bring quality health care to currently uninsured children and youth up to the age of 19 in Louisiana. Children can qualify for coverage under LaCHIP using higher income standards than traditional Medicaid.

LaCHIP provides Medicaid coverage for doctor visits for primary care as well as preventive and emergency care, immunizations, prescription medications, hospitalization, home health care and many other health services. For a more detailed listing of covered services, click here.

If your child receives their care through one of the Healthy Louisiana plans, visit https://www.myplan.healthy.la.gov/ to see a list of doctors and or other medical service providers in your area who take Medicaid/LaCHIP. Here, you can search for Medicaid providers in your city, zip code or parish; or search for a specific provider by name.

LaCHIP provides health care coverage for the children of Louisiana's working families with moderate and low incomes. Children must be under age 19 and not covered by health insurance. Family income cannot be more than 217 percent of the Federal Poverty Level (about $4,395 monthly for a family of four) for the no-cost LaCHIP program.

Number in Family (including child) 217% FPL Monthly Income (2018)

1                                                              $2,196
2                                                              $2,977
3                                                              $3,758
4                                                              $4,539
5                                                              $5,321
6                                                              $6,102
7                                                              $6,883
8                                                              $7,664
More than 8                                            For each additional person, add $782 to the monthly amount.

Do I Qualify?

If your income is more than these amounts, you may qualify for the LaCHIP Affordable Plan, which is available to uninsured Louisiana children in families up to the age of 19 whose families have an annual income up to 250 percent of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). Families of children enrolled in the LaCHIP Affordable Plan, however, will pay a $50 monthly premium. To learn more about the LaCHIP affordable plan, click here.

No. However, the General Medicaid program is available to insured children in families whose monthly income falls within certain guidelines. The only way to know for certain if your child can qualify is to apply.

There are no enrollment fees, no premiums, no co-payments and no deductibles.

Yes, Louisiana adults, such as grandparents, can apply for LaCHIP for children in their care.

No, there is no waiting period for LaCHIP for families who terminate health insurance.

No, there is no interview required.

LaCHIP applications can be obtained by calling the LaCHIP Hotline at 1-877-2LaCHIP (252-2447) or at any of the more than 400 Medicaid application centers throughout the state. Applications are also available at WIC offices, school-based health clinics, community health centers, community action agencies and other locations throughout the state. You can also download and print a copy by clicking here.

Yes, Spanish and Vietnamese applications are available.

After we review your application, we will send a letter in the mail to let you know if you qualify for coverage. To check the status of your application, you may call 1-877-2LaCHIP.

Yes, you will receive a plastic Medicaid card.

Yes. Simply call 1-877-2LaCHIP (1-877-252-2447) any time day or night. You can leave your name and mailing address on the voice response system and an application will be mailed to you the next business day. Staff can assist you with the application 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Coverage can begin as early as three months prior to the month in which the application is received.

Children enrolled in LaCHIP will maintain their eligibility for 12 continuous months no matter how much their family's income increases during this period. This is being done to ensure children receive initial and follow-up care. A renewal of coverage is done after each 12-month period.

Yes. The federal poverty index increases every April. This means people who do not qualify today because their income is too high might qualify when the index is next updated.

Yes, you can renew your coverage by phone by calling the toll free hotline at 1-877-2LaCHIP (252-2447).

Yes. We must review all LaCHIP and Medicaid cases at least once a year. If we are unable to complete a review of your case without your help, we will need to contact you.

You will only be asked to send in items that you have not already given us or information that may have changed. You may be asked to send information such as recent check stubs.

You may call the LaCHIP hotline at 1-877-252-2447 and choose the "Replace Medicaid Card" option and provide the information required to obtain a replacement Medicaid card through the automated system. You may also submit your request online at the Louisiana Medicaid Online Application page.