Wyoming Kid Care CHIP

Kid Care CHIP is low-cost health coverage for children whose working parents earn too much for Medicaid. It is for children whose family income is below 200 percent of the poverty level and who do not qualify for Medicaid. You apply through the same WES portal at wesystem.wyo.gov, or by phone at 1-855-294-2127. One application checks a child for both Medicaid and CHIP, so you do not have to guess which one fits.

The coverage is broad and made for growing kids. It includes check-ups, immunizations, prescription medications, and mental health care. It also covers dental care, medically necessary orthodontics, vision care including eyeglasses, physical therapy, and lab and x-ray services. For many families, the dental and vision coverage alone makes applying worth it.

Costs stay low, and they depend on the plan your child is in. Plan A has no copays for any covered service. Plans B and C have small copays: $2.45 for other medical and vision visits, and $3.65 for hospital and clinic care. Emergency care and pharmacy stay at no copay on those plans. On top of that, Kid Care CHIP offers free preventive dental and health care.

A parent, foster parent, or guardian applies on the child's behalf. The program is built for families who work and have insurance that costs too much or does not cover the children, so do not assume your income is too high before you check. The income line for CHIP sits above the Medicaid lines, which is the whole point of the program.

The two programs work together. Because one WES application checks a child for both Medicaid and CHIP, a child who is just over the Medicaid limit can land on CHIP without a second application. That means most children in low- and middle-income Wyoming families can get covered somewhere.

To apply, go to wesystem.wyo.gov or call 1-855-294-2127. You can also apply by mail, by fax, or in person. Have proof of your child's identity, Wyoming residency, and your household income ready so the office can decide without writing back for more.