Texas CHIP is the Children's Health Insurance Program that Texas runs through the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC). It covers children from birth through age 18 whose families earn too much for Texas children's Medicaid but cannot easily afford private coverage. In 2026, the Texas CHIP income ceiling is 201% of the Federal Poverty Level, and the CoveredUSA eligibility engine uses a combined children's limit of 206% FPL because MAGI rules add a 5-point disregard. For a family of four, 206% FPL in 2026 equals $67,980 per year. Texas CHIP accepts applications year-round through YourTexasBenefits.com.
Texas is one of 10 states that has not expanded Medicaid for adults, so adult parents in Texas generally do not qualify for Medicaid even at very low income. Children are treated differently. Texas children's Medicaid and Texas CHIP together reach families at roughly twice the poverty line. This page covers Texas CHIP eligibility for children in 2026: income limits by household size, how MAGI (Modified Adjusted Gross Income) is counted, the application steps, required documents, immigration rules that changed on October 1, 2026, and what to do after a denial.
Quick Answer: Does My Child Qualify for Texas CHIP in 2026?
Yes. Texas CHIP covers Texas children under 19 in families earning up to about 206% FPL in 2026 ($67,980 for a family of four), if the child meets citizenship or immigration rules. Apply year-round at YourTexasBenefits.com. Adults do not qualify through Texas CHIP.
Texas CHIP Income Limits by Household Size (2026)
Texas CHIP measures income with Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI), the same method used for the ACA marketplace and Medicaid for children. MAGI starts with adjusted gross income from the federal tax return and adds back untaxed Social Security and foreign income. It does not count child support received, gifts, or Supplemental Security Income. Texas compares your MAGI to the Federal Poverty Level for your family size and household composition, using the 2026 guidelines of $15,960 for one person plus $5,680 for each additional person.
Texas children's Medicaid covers children in lower income bands that depend on age: about 198% FPL for infants under 1, 144% FPL for ages 1 to 5, and 133% FPL for ages 6 to 18. Texas CHIP covers children above those lines up to 201% FPL, and the 5-point MAGI disregard lifts the practical limit to 206% FPL in 2026. Texas HHSC decides which program fits each child, so one family can have children in both programs. The table shows the 206% FPL ceiling by household size.
Texas CHIP Eligibility Rules Beyond Income (2026)
Texas CHIP requires that the child be under 19, live in Texas, and not be enrolled in Medicaid or covered by other qualifying health insurance. Texas CHIP has no asset test for children. The child must also meet federal citizenship or immigration rules. From October 1, 2026, full Medicaid and CHIP are limited to citizens and nationals, green card holders, Cuban and Haitian entrants, and citizens of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands and Palau. Refugees, asylees, parolees and other immigrants without a green card generally no longer qualify for federally funded coverage.
Texas CHIP rules for immigrant children also include carve-outs. Emergency Medicaid still pays for emergency care for people who would otherwise qualify, and states may still cover lawfully residing children and pregnant women through a federally matched option. Most green card holders must wait 5 years from the date of their qualifying status, with no wait for people who came as refugees or asylees. DACA recipients have never been eligible for full federal Medicaid or CHIP. A citizen child with undocumented parents can qualify, because eligibility is based on the child's status, not the parents'. Ask HHSC about current Texas options for your child.
How to Apply for Texas CHIP in 2026
Texas CHIP accepts applications all year, with no enrollment window, through YourTexasBenefits.com, by phone at 1-800-252-8263, or with a paper form. The online portal is the fastest route and lets you upload proof, track your case, and receive notices electronically. In 2026, a single Texas HHSC application is screened for children's Medicaid, Texas CHIP, and other benefits at once, so you do not need to decide in advance which program fits your child.
Texas CHIP applicants who are approved choose a managed care health plan and receive a member ID. Coverage includes doctor visits, preventive care, hospital care, prescriptions, dental, and vision. Enrollment fees and copays depend on household income and family size, and HHSC lists the exact amounts on the approval notice. Texas CHIP renewals are sent before the end of the eligibility period, so keep your address and phone number current with HHSC to avoid losing coverage.
Documents Needed to Apply for Texas CHIP
Texas CHIP verifies many facts electronically through data matches, but HHSC will send a notice asking for proof when a match fails. The items below are the ones Texas families most often need to supply. Submit copies, not originals, and respond by the deadline printed on the HHSC notice. Documents for every person counted in your household composition may be requested, not only the child applying.
- Social Security number for each child applying, if the child has one
- Proof of Texas residency such as a utility bill, lease, or official mail
- Proof of household income: recent pay stubs, employer letter, tax return, or self-employment records
- Proof of age and identity for each child
- Immigration documents for any non-citizen child
- Information about other health coverage available through a parent's job
Is Texas a Medicaid Expansion State? What It Means for Texas CHIP
Texas is one of the 10 non-expansion states in 2026, along with Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, Wisconsin and Wyoming. Texas has not adopted the Medicaid expansion for adults up to 138% FPL ($22,025 per year for an individual in 2026), and the Texas Medicaid adult limit for parents is far below the poverty line. Because the expansion work requirement in federal law applies only to expansion adults, it does not apply to Texas CHIP or to Texas children's coverage.
Texas adults below 100% FPL who do not qualify for Texas Medicaid fall into the ACA gap: they earn too little for premium tax credits and have no Medicaid option. Since 2026, there is no exception for lawfully present immigrants under 100% FPL. The enhanced premium tax credits ended on December 31, 2025, so the 400% FPL cap is back for 2026 coverage. Children stay protected either way: Texas CHIP and children's Medicaid run under Title XXI and Title XIX and do not depend on adult expansion.
Common Reasons Texas CHIP Applications Get Denied
Texas CHIP denials usually come from income above the limit, a missing document, or an eligibility rule the family did not expect. The most frequent cause is household income above about 206% FPL in 2026 ($67,980 for a family of four). Counting the wrong household composition also causes errors. Because MAGI follows tax-filing relationships, a child who lives with a grandparent or other relative may be assessed on a different household, which can change the result.
- Household income above the Texas CHIP limit (about 206% FPL in 2026)
- Child is 19 or older
- Immigration status not covered under the rules effective October 1, 2026
- Proof of income, identity, or residency not returned by the notice deadline
How to Appeal a Texas CHIP Denial
Texas HHSC sends a written notice that states the reason for a Texas CHIP denial and the deadline to ask for review. Start by calling 1-800-252-8263 to confirm the reason, because many denials are fixed by sending a missing document or correcting household size. If the denial stands, you can request a fair hearing as the notice instructs, and you may bring a representative. Keep copies of everything you send. You can also reapply at any time if your income or household changes, since Texas CHIP has no enrollment window.
Texas CHIP Context: What It Covers and Who Runs It
Texas CHIP began in 2000 under Title XXI of the Social Security Act, and the Texas Health and Human Services Commission administers it with federal matching funds. In 2026, Texas CHIP benefits for children include checkups, immunizations, prescriptions, hospital and emergency care, mental health services, dental, and vision. Texas CHIP is minimum essential coverage under the ACA, and children enrolled in it do not need a separate marketplace plan. Families above the Texas CHIP limit can shop for children's coverage at HealthCare.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Texas CHIP income limit for a family of 4 in 2026?
A family of four can earn up to about $67,980 per year in 2026 for Texas CHIP, which is 206% of the 2026 Federal Poverty Level of $33,000. The published Texas CHIP ceiling is 201% FPL ($66,330 for four), and the 5-point MAGI disregard raises the effective test to 206%. Lower-income children may be placed in Texas children's Medicaid instead.
What counts as income for Texas CHIP (MAGI)?
Texas CHIP uses Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI). It counts wages, tips, net self-employment income, unemployment benefits, taxable interest, and untaxed Social Security. It does not count child support received, gifts, or Supplemental Security Income. Income is compared with the Federal Poverty Level for your household composition and family size, using the 2026 guidelines.
What documents do I need to apply for Texas CHIP?
Have Social Security numbers for the children applying, proof of Texas residency, proof of income for everyone in the household, proof of age and identity, and immigration papers for any non-citizen child. Texas verifies many items electronically, so HHSC may ask only for what it cannot match. Reply by the deadline on the notice to avoid a denial.
What happens if Texas CHIP denies my child?
HHSC mails a notice with the reason and the deadline to ask for review. Call 1-800-252-8263 first, since many denials are fixed with a missing document or a corrected household size. You can request a fair hearing and bring a representative. You can also reapply at any time because Texas CHIP has no enrollment window.
Can my family work and still qualify for Texas CHIP?
Yes. Texas CHIP is built for working families who earn too much for children's Medicaid. Earnings count toward MAGI, so your family qualifies if household income stays at or below about 206% FPL in 2026. The Medicaid work requirement in federal law applies to expansion adults, not to children covered by Texas CHIP.
Is Texas a Medicaid expansion state?
No. Texas is one of 10 non-expansion states in 2026, so most adults do not qualify for Medicaid even at low income. This does not change Texas CHIP for children, which runs under Title XXI. Texas adults under 100% FPL fall into the ACA gap, with no Medicaid and no premium tax credit.
How long does the Texas CHIP application take?
Texas CHIP accepts applications year-round at YourTexasBenefits.com or by phone at 1-800-252-8263. HHSC generally decides complete applications within weeks, but missing proof can slow the decision. After approval you choose a managed care health plan. Check the approval notice for your start date and any enrollment fee or copay amounts.
How is Texas CHIP different from Medicare?
Texas CHIP is a state-run program for children under 19 in families with limited income, funded by the state and federal government. Medicare is federal health insurance mainly for people 65 and older and some people with disabilities, and it does not depend on income. A child does not qualify for Texas CHIP because a grandparent has Medicare.
