Missouri CHIP: Children's Health Insurance Program
Updated August 2026
Missouri covers children through MO HealthNet for Kids, which provides both Medicaid and CHIP-funded coverage for uninsured children under age 19. Missouri's CHIP program is a CHIP Medicaid expansion program — it operates through the same administrative infrastructure as adult MO HealthNet but with separate federal funding for children between 133% and 300% FPL.
300% FPL
MO HealthNet for Kids income limit
MO HealthNet for Kids
Program name
mydssapp.mo.gov
Apply online
Missouri's CHIP program is MO HealthNet for Kids — covers children in families up to 300% FPL
Missouri covers children through MO HealthNet for Kids, which includes both Medicaid-funded and CHIP-funded coverage for children up to age 19 in families with income up to 300% FPL ($99,000/year for a family of four as of April 2026).
MO HealthNet for Kids: Missouri's children's coverage program
Missouri also operates Show Me Healthy Babies, which extends pregnancy coverage through the first 12 months of the child's life for women covered under Missouri's CHIP-funded pregnancy program. Show Me Healthy Babies income limit is 300% FPL — the same as MO HealthNet for Kids.
Missouri's 300% FPL income limit for children's coverage is relatively generous — many states stop CHIP eligibility at 200%–250% FPL. A family of four with income up to roughly $99,000 (as of April 2026) may qualify for coverage.
MO HealthNet for Kids income eligibility
Source: Missouri DSS MO HealthNet for Kids program documentation; KFF State Health Facts Medicaid/CHIP income eligibility table. FPL dollar amounts update annually in January. Verify current dollar thresholds with DSS.
| Population | Income Limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Children 0–18 | Up to 300% FPL | Medicaid-funded below ~133%, CHIP-funded 133–300% |
| Pregnant women (Show Me Healthy Babies) | Up to 300% FPL | Extended through 60 days postpartum |
Children 0–18
- Income Limit
- Up to 300% FPL
- Notes
- Medicaid-funded below ~133%, CHIP-funded 133–300%
Pregnant women (Show Me Healthy Babies)
- Income Limit
- Up to 300% FPL
- Notes
- Extended through 60 days postpartum
Benefits for children under MO HealthNet for Kids
Children in MO HealthNet for Kids receive comprehensive coverage under EPSDT.
- Well-child visits and preventive care (EPSDT screenings)
- Sick visits and specialist care
- Comprehensive dental — exams, cleanings, fillings, extractions, orthodontics when necessary
- Vision — eye exams and glasses
- Mental health and substance use disorder services
- Prescription drugs
- Hospital care — inpatient and outpatient
- Emergency services
- Therapy services — physical, occupational, speech-language
- Durable medical equipment (DME)
Premiums and cost sharing
MO HealthNet for Kids has no premiums for children in families at or below 150% FPL. Children in families between 150% and 300% FPL enrolled in the CHIP-funded component may pay modest premiums. Federal law limits CHIP family cost sharing to 5% of annual income across all Medicaid and CHIP costs combined.
Missouri does not charge co-pays for most preventive services for children. Contact the MO HealthNet Division at 855-373-9994 for current premium and co-pay information for your family's income level.
How to enroll a child
Apply for MO HealthNet for Kids at mydssapp.mo.gov, by calling 855-373-9994, or in person at your local Family Support Division (FSD) office. Children born to MO HealthNet-enrolled mothers are automatically enrolled at birth. Children who lose employer-sponsored insurance may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period — contact DSS within 60 days of losing other coverage.
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.
MO HealthNet (Missouri Medicaid)
- MO HealthNet for Kids application portal: mydssapp.mo.gov
- MO HealthNet Division phone line: 855-373-9994
- Missouri DSS – MO HealthNet: dss.mo.gov/mhd
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.
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