Tennessee CHIP: Children's Health Insurance Program
Updated August 2026
CoverKids covers uninsured children under 19 whose household income is above the TennCare Medicaid income limit but at or below 250% FPL. For a family of four, 250% FPL is $82,500 per year, per the Bureau of TennCare's Eligibility Reference Guide (tn.gov/tenncare). Children must be Tennessee residents and must not have access to other affordable government health coverage.
250% FPL
CoverKids upper income ceiling
Under 19
Age group covered
$0
Monthly premium for income-eligible CoverKids families
Tennessee's CHIP program is called CoverKids
CoverKids is Tennessee's Children's Health Insurance Program, covering children up to age 19 whose family income is above the TennCare Medicaid limit but at or below 250% of the Federal Poverty Level. CoverKids is administered by the Bureau of TennCare. Apply at tenncareconnect.tn.gov or call 1-855-259-0701.
Who qualifies for CoverKids
The Bureau of TennCare's current Eligibility Reference Guide (tn.gov/tenncare) shows TennCare Medicaid covering children ages 6–19 up to 133% FPL, with CoverKids available "at or below 250% of the poverty level" for children who don't qualify for TennCare — meaning the effective CoverKids band is 133%–250% FPL. This resolves an earlier discrepancy between a summary line and a comparison table on the older source page; the current official guidance is consistent with the 133%–250% FPL figure.
- Child must be under age 19
- Family income above TennCare Medicaid limit and at or below 250% FPL (approximately $80,000/yr for a family of 4)
- Child must be a U.S. citizen, national, or qualified non-citizen
- Child must reside in Tennessee
- Child must not be enrolled in TennCare Medicaid or another government health program
CoverKids premiums and cost-sharing
Per the official CoverKids FAQ (tn.gov/coverkids), families who meet the income guidelines do not pay a monthly premium for CoverKids. Instead, families make co-payments for certain services, and co-payment amounts vary based on income.
Preventive care and well-child visits are generally exempt from co-pays. Annual out-of-pocket costs are capped under federal CHIP rules — no family pays more than 5% of household income in total CHIP cost-sharing in a plan year.
What CoverKids covers
CoverKids provides comprehensive health benefits through the TennCare MCOs — BlueCare Tennessee, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan, and Wellpoint — the same plans used for standard TennCare.
- Well-child checkups and immunizations
- Primary care and specialist visits
- Prescriptions (through OptumRx, the TennCare pharmacy benefit manager)
- Emergency and urgent care
- Inpatient hospital care
- Mental health and behavioral health services
- Dental care (including preventive, diagnostic, and restorative)
- Vision care and eyeglasses
- Physical, occupational, and speech therapy
How to apply for CoverKids
Apply for CoverKids through TennCare Connect at tenncareconnect.tn.gov. The same application covers TennCare Medicaid and CoverKids CHIP — the system determines which program your child qualifies for based on household income. You can also apply by calling 1-855-259-0701 or visiting a local Department of Human Services office (DHS has locations in all 95 Tennessee counties).
Tennessee also has the TennCare Connect mobile app available on iOS and Android, which allows you to complete and track your application.
Eligible children can apply for CoverKids regardless of their parents' citizenship or immigration status. Parents do not need to provide their own Social Security numbers when applying only for their children. This protection applies under federal CHIP rules.
CoverKids vs. TennCare: income limits for children
Source: Bureau of TennCare eligibility information. Children at or below approximately 133% FPL qualify for TennCare Medicaid (no premium). Children above this threshold and at or below 250% FPL qualify for CoverKids CHIP.
| Program | Income limit | Premiums |
|---|---|---|
| TennCare Medicaid (children) | up to ~133% FPL | None |
| CoverKids (CHIP) | 133%–250% FPL | $10–$35/mo |
TennCare Medicaid (children)
- Income limit
- up to ~133% FPL
- Premiums
- None
CoverKids (CHIP)
- Income limit
- 133%–250% FPL
- Premiums
- $10–$35/mo
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.
TennCare (Tennessee Medicaid)
- TennCare Connect: tenncareconnect.tn.gov
- Bureau of TennCare phone line: 1-855-259-0701
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