Child Health Plus
Last updated August 2026
Child Health Plus has a promise most states cannot make: every New York child under 19 can get covered. There is no income cutoff, immigration status is not a barrier, and care has zero copays and zero deductible. The main exclusions: a child who already has insurance, or one eligible for the public employees' state benefits plan.
The price scales gently. Free below roughly 2.2 times the poverty line: up to $5,055 a month of income for a family of three, $6,105 for four. Above that: $15, $30, $45, or $60 per child per month, and you never pay for more than 3 children. The highest earners can still buy in at the plan's full premium. Note: the old $9 tier is gone; sites quoting it are stale.
Coverage is genuinely broad: checkups, immunizations, prescriptions and over-the-counter drugs, hospital care, mental health and substance use treatment, vision, hearing, dental, hospice.
One application sorts everything: apply through NY State of Health online, at 855-355-5777, or with a free Enrollment Assistor, and income decides whether a child lands in free Children's Medicaid or CHPlus. Paper applications ended years ago; the marketplace is the only door.
Enrollment runs year-round, and children under 6 now keep continuous coverage without renewal churn under the state's new waiver. Older kids' coverage does need annual renewal, so open the letters when they come. Kids' coverage questions have their own hotline: 1-800-698-4543.
Phone 1-800-698-4543
Help available in English and Spanish.
Updated August 2026 Program details can change — confirm with the program directly.
Who qualifies
- Children under age 19 who are New York State residents and not eligible for Medicaid
- Premium depends on family income and size; there is no upper income limit that blocks enrollment
You may qualify. The program makes the final decision.
How to apply
- 1
Apply at nystateofhealth.ny.gov, call 855-355-5777, or sit with a free Enrollment Assistor. Paper applications are not accepted.
- 2
Have income info and the kids' details ready. The same application checks Children's Medicaid and CHPlus and picks the right one.
- 3
Uninsured child, any income, any immigration status? Apply. The full-premium buy-in exists even above the subsidy bands.
- 4
Pay the monthly premium if your band has one: $15 to $60 per child, capped at 3 children.
- 5
Renew when the letter comes each year. Children under 6 stay covered continuously without renewal under the state's waiver.
- 6
Questions? The kids' coverage hotline is 1-800-698-4543.
What the application looks like
Common questions
Who can get Child Health Plus?
Any New York resident under 19 who is uninsured, at any income and regardless of immigration status. The carve-outs are children who already have insurance and children eligible for the public employees' state benefits plan.
How much does Child Health Plus cost?
Free up to about $5,055 a month of income for a family of three, then $15, $30, $45, or $60 per child per month by income, never for more than 3 children. No copays, no deductible, ever. Above 400 percent of poverty, families pay the plan's full premium.
Does immigration status matter for CHPlus?
No. The state's official materials say immigration status is not a barrier to Child Health Plus.
What does CHPlus cover?
Checkups, shots, prescription and over-the-counter medicine, hospital care, mental health and substance use treatment, vision, hearing, dental, and hospice, all with zero out-of-pocket at the point of care.
When can I enroll my child?
Any time of year, through NY State of Health only: online, at 855-355-5777, or with a free Enrollment Assistor.
Will my child lose coverage if my income changes?
Children under 6 keep continuous coverage under the state's new waiver. Older kids renew annually; a mid-year income change mainly matters at renewal. Answer the renewal letter and coverage continues.
Not sure this is the right program for your situation?
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