Nebraska CHIP: Children's Health Insurance Program
Updated August 2026
Kids Connection is Nebraska's Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), covering uninsured children under 19 whose family income is above the Nebraska Medicaid limit but who otherwise could not afford private health insurance.
213% FPL
Kids Connection (CHIP) income limit for children
Kids Connection
Nebraska's CHIP program name
855-632-7633
DHHS Kids Connection / iServe phone line
You can apply for Kids Connection even if a parent is undocumented
Eligible children can apply for Kids Connection and Nebraska Medicaid regardless of their parents' immigration status. Parents do not need to provide their own Social Security numbers or immigration documents when applying only for a child's coverage. This is standard policy under federal Medicaid and CHIP rules.
What is Kids Connection?
Kids Connection is administered by Nebraska DHHS and uses the same iServe Nebraska application process as Medicaid.
Who qualifies for Kids Connection
Nebraska Medicaid covers children at income levels that vary by age — up to 162% FPL for infants under 1, 145% FPL for ages 1–5, and 133% FPL for ages 6–18, per DHHS's current income guidance. Kids Connection (CHIP) extends coverage for children above those Medicaid levels up to 213% FPL. DHHS determines the exact eligibility category — contact 855-632-7633 or apply through iServe Nebraska for a current determination.
- Child must be under age 19
- Family income must be above the Nebraska Medicaid limit for the child's age (133%–162% FPL, depending on age) and at or below 213% FPL for Kids Connection
- Child must be a U.S. citizen, national, or qualified non-citizen
- Child must be a Nebraska resident
- Child must not already be covered by employer-sponsored health insurance or other creditable coverage
- Child must not be eligible for Nebraska Medicaid
Kids Connection premiums and cost-sharing
Kids Connection is structured as a Medicaid expansion (M-CHIP) rather than a separately branded CHIP plan, so it follows Medicaid — not separate-CHIP — cost-sharing rules. Nebraska has historically not charged premiums or cost sharing for children's coverage under Kids Connection, per Nebraska DHHS program documentation and the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families.
Because cost-sharing rules can change, confirm current premium and copay status by calling DHHS at 855-632-7633 or checking your eligibility notice when you apply through iServe Nebraska.
What Kids Connection covers
Kids Connection provides comprehensive children's health coverage comparable to EPSDT, including all the services children receive under Nebraska Medicaid.
- Well-child visits and immunizations
- Doctor visits and specialist referrals
- Prescription drugs
- Emergency and urgent care
- Inpatient hospital care
- Mental health and substance use disorder services
- Dental care — comprehensive, including orthodontics when medically necessary
- Vision care and eyeglasses
- Physical, occupational, and speech therapy
- Home health services
How to apply for Kids Connection
Apply for Kids Connection through the same process as Nebraska Medicaid. The iServe Nebraska application at iserve.nebraska.gov/apply/start covers both programs — DHHS determines whether the child qualifies for Medicaid or Kids Connection CHIP based on household income.
You can also apply by calling DHHS at 855-632-7633 or visiting a local DHHS Public Assistance office. Applications are typically processed within 45 days under federal rules.
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.
Nebraska Medicaid
- iServe Nebraska application: iserve.nebraska.gov/apply/start
- Nebraska DHHS Kids Connection phone line: 855-632-7633
- Nebraska DHHS phone line (Lincoln): 402-473-7000
- Nebraska DHHS phone line (Omaha): 402-595-1178
- Nebraska DHHS Medicaid: dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/Medicaid.aspx
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