Data as of December 2009.
The income eligibility levels noted may refer to gross or net income depending on the state. "Regular" Medicaid refers to coverage under Medicaid eligibility standards for children in place prior to CHIP; states receive "regular" Medicaid matching payments as opposed to enhanced CHIP matching payments for these children.
The states noted use federal CHIP funds to operate separate child health insurance programs for children not eligible for Medicaid. Such programs may provide benefits similar to Medicaid or they may provide a limited benefit package. They also may impose premiums or other cost-sharing obligations on some or all families with eligible children. These programs typically provide coverage through the child’s 19th birthday.
Eligibility levels shown as percent of the FPL. Currency figures based on FPL for a family of three in 2009: $18,310 for 48 contiguous states and District of Columbia, $22,890 for Alaska, $21,060 for Hawaii.

A Foundation for Health Reform: Findings of a 50 State Survey of Eligibility Rules, Enrollment and Renewal Procedures, and Cost-Sharing Practices in Medicaid and CHIP for Children and Parents During 2009. Data based on a national survey conducted by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities for the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured, December 2009. Available at http://www.kff.org/medicaid/kcmu120809pkg.cfm. 2009 HHS Poverty Guidelines: http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/09poverty.shtml.

CHIP: Children's Health Insurance Program.
The Federal Poverty Level (FPL) was established to help government agencies determine eligibility levels for public assistance programs such as Medicaid. FPL is represented in this resource as poverty guidelines as opposed to the slightly different poverty thresholds.
NA: Not applicable because state does not have separate CHIP program.

1. Not applicable because there are no national eligibility levels.
2. Alabama expanded CHIP eligibility from 200 to 300 percent of the federal poverty line in October 2009.
3. Colorado enacted legislation that expands income eligibility in CHIP to 250 percent of the federal poverty line, and the state plans to implement this expansion in early 2010.
4. Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Maine, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Wisconsin all operate a buy-in program in which children with family incomes above CHIP levels can purchase coverage. See Table 1B (available at the link in the data source) for income eligibility guidelines and premiums for these buy-in programs.
5. Florida operates two CHIP-funded separate programs. Healthy Kids covers children ages 5 through 19, as well as younger siblings in some locations. MediKids covers children ages 1 through 4.
6. Illinois and Massachusetts provide state-financed coverage to children with incomes above CHIP levels. Eligibility is unlimited in Illinois and up to 400% FPL in Massachusetts.
7. Kansas plans to expand CHIP eligibility from 200 percent of the federal poverty line to 241 percent of the federal poverty starting January 2010. The state legislature authorized eligibility at 250 percent of the 2008 federal poverty line. There will be an 8-month waiting period for the expansion population.
8. Louisiana passed legislation in June 2008 to expand to 300 percent of the federal poverty line, but has currently implemented up to 250 percent of the federal poverty line.
9. Montana expanded income eligibility in CHIP from 175 to 250 percent of the federal poverty line, and expanded income eligibility for children ages 6 to 19 in Medicaid from 100 to 133 percent of the federal poverty line, in October 2009.
10. New York previously provided state-funded coverage for children in families with incomes between 250 percent and 400 percent of the federal poverty line. The state now receives federal matching funds up to 400 percent of the federal poverty line, retroactive to September 1, 2008.
11. North Dakota expanded income eligibility in CHIP from 150 to 160 percent of the federal poverty level in July 2009.
12. Oregon expanded income eligibility in CHIP from 185 to 200 percent of the federal poverty line in October 2009. Starting in January 2010, the state plans to implement a program in which children in families with incomes between 200 percent and 300 percent of the federal poverty line will be connected with private coverage. The state will use CHIP funding to provide subsidies for between 80 and 90 percent of the cost of this private coverage to families with incomes between 200 percent and 300 percent of the federal poverty line, and families with incomes greater than 300 percent of the federal poverty line can buy-in at the full cost.
13. For Tennessee, the Medicaid figures shown represent the income eligibility guidelines under "regular" Medicaid. Enrollment under the state's waiver program is closed to new applicants; some children who lose Medicaid can enroll (see footnote 6). In 2007 the state created a separate CHIP program for children in families with income up to 250 percent of the federal poverty line. Children not eligible for regular Medicaid and children closed out of TennCare Standard who meet the CHIP income guidelines can enroll in the separate CHIP program.
14. In Vermont, Medicaid covers uninsured children in families with income at or below 225 percent of the federal poverty line; uninsured children in families with income between 226 and 300 percent of the federal poverty line are covered under a separate CHIP program. Underinsured children are covered under Medicaid up to 300 percent of the federal poverty line. This expansion of coverage for underinsured children was achieved through an amendment to the state's Medicaid Section 1115 waiver.
15. Washington expanded income eligibility in CHIP from 250 to 300 percent of the federal poverty line in January 2009.
16. West Virginia expanded income eligibility in CHIP from 220 to 250 percent of the federal poverty line in January 2009.