Hawaii CHIP: Children's Health Insurance Program
Updated August 2026
Under federal law, states have two options for using CHIP (Title XXI) funding: operate a separate CHIP program with its own premiums and cost-sharing rules, or extend Medicaid eligibility to cover more children (a "CHIP Medicaid expansion"). Hawaii chose the Medicaid expansion approach.
308% FPL
Med-QUEST children's income limit (per Medicaid.gov)
QUEST Integration
Program children are covered under
$0
CHIP premiums or cost-sharing for children
Hawaii has no separate CHIP program — children are covered through QUEST Integration
Hawaii uses its federal CHIP funding to extend Medicaid-equivalent coverage to children rather than operating a separately branded program. Children are covered under QUEST Integration (the standard Med-QUEST managed care program) up to 308% of the Federal Poverty Level (per Medicaid.gov's Hawaii state profile), with no separate CHIP premiums or cost-sharing, no separate application, and no coverage gap between Medicaid and CHIP.
Why Hawaii has no separate CHIP program
This means Hawaiian children whose household income falls between the standard Medicaid limit and 308% FPL receive the same Medicaid benefits, the same managed care plans, and the same federal EPSDT protections as children at lower income levels — not a second-tier program. Hawaii's CHIP-funded coverage has no premiums or cost-sharing at any income level, per the National Academy for State Health Policy.
Hawaii's history of universal coverage — the 1974 Prepaid Health Care Act preceded the ACA by decades — reflects a state policy commitment to integration over fragmentation. The CHIP expansion is consistent with that approach.
Children's eligibility under Med-QUEST in Hawaii
Children qualify for Med-QUEST coverage under the CHIP-funded expansion if they meet the following requirements.
- Under age 19
- Hawaii resident
- U.S. citizen or qualified non-citizen (certain immigration statuses qualify)
- Household income at or below 308% of the Federal Poverty Level (before the standard 5% MAGI income disregard, which raises the effective ceiling slightly further)
- Not enrolled in employer-sponsored insurance that meets minimum value and affordability standards
What Med-QUEST covers for children
Children enrolled in QUEST Integration receive the full Medicaid benefit package, including all EPSDT (Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment) services required under federal law (42 U.S.C. § 1396d(r)). EPSDT requires coverage of all medically necessary services identified through screening — there is no fixed benefit cap on what children can receive.
- Comprehensive well-child exams at required EPSDT intervals
- Vision screening and corrective eyewear when medically necessary
- Hearing screening and hearing aids when medically necessary
- Full dental care — preventive, restorative, and emergency
- Immunizations per CDC schedule
- Mental health and behavioral health services
- Substance use disorder treatment services
- Specialty care, including referrals to pediatric specialists
- Physical, occupational, and speech therapy
- Prescription medications
How to apply for a child's Med-QUEST coverage
Apply for a child through the same KOLEA online application system used for all Med-QUEST coverage. Visit medquest.hawaii.gov and select "I Need to Apply." Applications can also be submitted by calling 1-800-316-8005 (TTY: 711) or in person at a DHS Med-QUEST office on your island.
Parents and guardians with undocumented immigration status can still apply for their child if the child is a U.S. citizen or qualified non-citizen. The parent or guardian's immigration status is not considered when determining the child's eligibility. You do not need to provide the parent's Social Security number to apply for the child.
What CHIP is nationally
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.
Med-QUEST (Hawaii Medicaid)
- Med-QUEST (KOLEA) online application: medquest.hawaii.gov
- Med-QUEST phone line: 1-800-316-8005 (TTY: 711)
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 →