Alaska CHIP: Children's Health Insurance Program
Updated August 2026
Denali KidCare provides health coverage for Alaska children and pregnant women who meet income limits. Apply through healthcare.gov or the Alaska Connect portal. A single application determines whether your child qualifies for Medicaid or Denali KidCare.
175% FPL
Denali KidCare income limit (approx.)
Denali KidCare
Alaska's CHIP program name
800-478-7778
DPA phone for Denali KidCare
Alaska's FPL adjustment means more families may qualify than expected
Because Alaska uses a higher FPL than the 48-state standard, the dollar income limit for Denali KidCare is higher in Alaska than in most other states for the same FPL percentage. Families who assume their income is too high should check — the actual Alaska dollar threshold is 25% higher than the same percentage applied elsewhere. Use DPA's pre-screening tool at health.alaska.gov or call 800-478-7778 to check your household.
Who qualifies for Denali KidCare
Denali KidCare is Alaska's Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), administered by DPA under the Alaska Department of Health. It covers children from birth through age 18 and pregnant women who meet household income limits but whose income is too high for standard Alaska Medicaid.
- Child must be under age 19 (or pregnant woman meeting income limits)
- Must be an Alaska resident
- Must be a U.S. citizen or qualifying immigrant
- Household income must be at or below approximately 175% of Alaska FPL
- A single application screens for both Medicaid and Denali KidCare
Denali KidCare benefits
Denali KidCare provides comprehensive coverage equivalent to Alaska Medicaid for children. The Alaska Medicaid Recipient Handbook (updated 2025) covers what services are available to enrolled members, including children on Denali KidCare.
- Well-child and preventive care visits
- Immunizations
- Doctor visits and specialist referrals
- Emergency and urgent care
- Inpatient hospital care
- Prescriptions (see Alaska Preferred Drug List for details)
- Dental care (EPSDT-scope for children under 21)
- Vision care
- Mental health and substance use treatment
- Physical, occupational, and speech therapy
- Non-emergency medical transportation
Renewing Denali KidCare coverage
Per DPA, Denali KidCare is issued for 12-month periods. DPA sends a renewal form to your household approximately 45 days before coverage ends. You must renew every 12 months to avoid a break in coverage.
Renew through the Alaska Connect portal, by calling 800-478-7778, or by returning the paper renewal form sent by DPA. The same access challenges that affect adult Medicaid renewals in rural Alaska apply to Denali KidCare — phone renewal is often the most practical option for families outside larger communities.
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.
How to apply for Denali KidCare
Apply through healthcare.gov or the Alaska Connect portal at alaskaconnect.ilinx.com/engage/dpa. The system will determine whether your child or pregnancy qualifies for Medicaid or Denali KidCare based on household income. You do not need to know which program applies before applying — the system screens automatically.
Alaska Medicaid
- Alaska DPA phone (Denali KidCare): 800-478-7778
- Alaska Connect portal: alaskaconnect.ilinx.com/engage/dpa
- Alaska Division of Public Assistance: health.alaska.gov/dpa
Related guides
For Pregnant Women
Coverage, income rules, and postpartum benefits during pregnancy.
Read more →Eligibility Requirements
The income, household, age, and state rules that determine who qualifies.
Read more →What Medicaid Covers
The services every state must cover, plus benefits that vary by state.
Read more →