About CHIP
What is CHIP?
CHIP stands for Children’s Health
Insurance Program. It is the state of Texas’ health insurance plan for
uninsured children up to the age of 19. Many working Texas families who don’t
have, or cannot afford, other health insurance qualify for CHIP.
The state of Texas, through the Department
of Health and Human Services, contracts with private HMOs to provide this
service.
What Does CHIP Cover?
Mercy
Health Plans covers medical services for CHIP children. We provide important
health care services that help children stay well. CHIP benefits include:
-
Primary
Care Provider (PCP) Services
-
Well
child visits and immunizations
-
Specialty care (may require a PCP referral)
-
Chiropractic services
-
Eye exam
and eyeglasses (contacts are not a benefit)
-
Hearing
aids and related services
-
Hospital
care when an overnight stay is required
-
Outpatient hospital care when an overnight stay is not required
-
Emergency room services
-
Laboratory tests and X-rays
-
Mental
health and substance abuse services
The CHIP
plan also covers other services. Some services may have limits. Limits may be
a specified number of visits or a total dollar amount.
In addition, the state of Texas provides
CHIP children extra benefits:
-
Prescription drug benefits
through First Health
The toll-free pharmacy phone number is 1-866-274-9154
-
Preventive dental benefits
through Delta Dental
The toll-free dental phone number is 1-866-561-5892
What Does CHIP cost?
$50 or less insures all of your
children for six months. Enrolling your children in CHIP is
as easy as calling toll-free
1-877-KIDS-NOW (TTY
users call 1-800-735-2988 - Relay Texas). You may also visit the Texas
CHIP/Medicaid website at
www.chipmedicaid.org to find an application.
Families are asked to re-enroll
every six months.
Once children qualify, their
families pay co-payments to providers at the time
of a health care service.
Need help?
You may call or visit a group in
your area for free help filling out your forms. The Laredo CBO is:
City of Laredo Public Health
Department
Contact Person: Rosario Rocha
2600 Cedar
Laredo TX 78040
956-795-4900