Our Guide to the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
If your family earns too much money to qualify for Medicaid, your children may still be eligible for government-funded, low-cost healthcare. The Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) covers basic health benefits for children, such as routine check-ups, immunizations, doctor visits, and prescriptions. CHIP ensures that a family’s children will get their basic needs covered. The adults in these families will often purchase their own insurance plans from a local BCBSNC provider, so that each family member is covered.
CHIP in North Carolina
North Carolina offers a version of CHIP called North Carolina Health Choice (NCHC). It covers children between the ages of 6 and 18. Other eligibility requirements include being a US citizen (or proof of eligible immigration status), North Carolina residency, and having a social security number. However, NCHC does offer advanced benefits including surgical services, family planning services, hospice care, and physical therapy. These benefits are available to NCHC members for free or for a reduced premium, which will depend on your income but won’t be more than 5% of your family’s income for the year.
Dental Coverage
Although some states don’t offer dental benefits through CHIP, North Carolina does. Eligible children will be covered for cleanings, fluoride treatments, sealants, and spacers. Thus, the dental benefits covered by NCHC are comparable to a private plan, such as Schnitzer-Slate Insurance Agency’s Dental Blue insurance plan. The main difference is that children covered by NCHC can only see dentists that accept NCHC, whereas the Dental Blue plan lets you choose any dentist you want.
How to get started
You can apply for CHIP any time of year. In North Carolina, the application for Medicaid and Health Choice is the same, and can be found on the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services website. After applying for CHIP, contact Schnitzer-Slate Insurance Agency for a free insurance quote. This will give you an option for insuring your family members who aren’t CHIP eligible. Also feel free to call a Schnitzer-Slate insurance expert at 910-338-0686.
CHIP in North Carolina
North Carolina offers a version of CHIP called North Carolina Health Choice (NCHC). It covers children between the ages of 6 and 18. Other eligibility requirements include being a US citizen (or proof of eligible immigration status), North Carolina residency, and having a social security number. However, NCHC does offer advanced benefits including surgical services, family planning services, hospice care, and physical therapy. These benefits are available to NCHC members for free or for a reduced premium, which will depend on your income but won’t be more than 5% of your family’s income for the year.
Dental Coverage
Although some states don’t offer dental benefits through CHIP, North Carolina does. Eligible children will be covered for cleanings, fluoride treatments, sealants, and spacers. Thus, the dental benefits covered by NCHC are comparable to a private plan, such as Schnitzer-Slate Insurance Agency’s Dental Blue insurance plan. The main difference is that children covered by NCHC can only see dentists that accept NCHC, whereas the Dental Blue plan lets you choose any dentist you want.
How to get started
You can apply for CHIP any time of year. In North Carolina, the application for Medicaid and Health Choice is the same, and can be found on the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services website. After applying for CHIP, contact Schnitzer-Slate Insurance Agency for a free insurance quote. This will give you an option for insuring your family members who aren’t CHIP eligible. Also feel free to call a Schnitzer-Slate insurance expert at 910-338-0686.