New Hampshire CHIP: Children's Health Insurance Program
Updated August 2026
NH Healthy Kids is New Hampshire's Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), established under Title XXI of the Social Security Act. It provides low-cost health coverage to children whose families earn too much for standard Medicaid but cannot afford or access private insurance. NH DHHS's current eligibility rules refer to this coverage as "Expanded Children's Medicaid (Expanded CM)," which applies to children with net income above 196% FPL and up to 318% FPL; children at or below 196% FPL qualify for standard Children's Medicaid instead.
318% FPL
NH Healthy Kids upper income limit
NH Healthy Kids
New Hampshire's CHIP program name
1-844-275-3447
NH DHHS (1-844-ASK-DHHS) phone line
NH Healthy Kids covers children up to 318% FPL — one of the highest thresholds in the country
New Hampshire covers children at a notably high income threshold — 318% FPL — compared with many states. At 318% FPL for a family of four, the monthly income limit is $8,745 per NH DHHS's current (2026) Expanded Children's Medicaid income limits. This means many working and middle-income families in New Hampshire can qualify their children for NH Healthy Kids.
What is NH Healthy Kids?
NH Healthy Kids uses the same three managed care organizations that deliver standard Medicaid services: AmeriHealth Caritas New Hampshire, NH Healthy Families, and WellSense Health Plan. After approval, you will choose a plan or be assigned one.
Who qualifies for NH Healthy Kids
- Under age 19
- New Hampshire resident
- U.S. citizen or qualified non-citizen
- Household net income above 196% FPL (the Children's Medicaid threshold) but at or below 318% FPL
- Not enrolled in employer-sponsored insurance that meets minimum value and affordability standards
- Not currently eligible for NH Medicaid
What NH Healthy Kids covers
NH Healthy Kids provides a comprehensive children's health benefit package. The federal CHIP statute (42 U.S.C. § 1397bb) requires that CHIP offer a benefit package comparable to standard commercial coverage benchmarks.
- Routine well-child exams and immunizations
- Doctor office visits and specialist care
- Emergency and urgent care
- Hospital inpatient and outpatient services
- Prescription drugs
- Mental health and behavioral health services
- Substance use disorder treatment
- Vision care and eyeglasses when prescribed
- Hearing services
- Dental care (children's dental through fee-for-service — not managed care)
- Physical, occupational, and speech therapy when medically necessary
Premiums and cost-sharing for NH Healthy Kids
NH Healthy Kids may require monthly premiums depending on household income. Federal CHIP rules (42 U.S.C. § 1397cc) cap total family out-of-pocket costs at 5% of annual household income. This cap applies across all CHIP enrollees in the household. If your family reaches the 5% cap, no further cost-sharing is required for the rest of the year.
Contact NH DHHS or the NH EASY portal for the current premium schedule — it is income-based and updated periodically.
How to apply for NH Healthy Kids
Apply through NH EASY at nheasy.nh.gov — the application covers both Medicaid and NH Healthy Kids in a single form. DHHS determines which program the child qualifies for based on income. You do not need to apply separately. If your child's income falls below the Medicaid threshold, they will be enrolled in Medicaid; if above, NH Healthy Kids.
Parents and guardians with undocumented immigration status can still apply for a child who is a U.S. citizen or qualified non-citizen. The parent's immigration status is not considered in the child's eligibility determination. Do not provide the parent's Social Security number if the parent is undocumented — apply for the child only.
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.
New Hampshire Medicaid
- NH EASY application portal: nheasy.nh.gov
- NH DHHS phone line: 1-844-ASK-DHHS (1-844-275-3447)
- NH DHHS Medicaid: dhhs.nh.gov/programs-services/medicaid
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 →