A parent, or parents, who earn an average of $4000 a month cannot sign their children up for Medicaid because that's more than 200% of the federal poverty level. Nonetheless, such a family may still be unable to afford quality health coverage for their children. That is where LaCHIP comes in.

LaCHIP is designed to ensure that children who don't have Medicaid and/or other health insurance can still access quality healthcare for free. LaCHIP features the following among other health benefits:

• Free visits to the doctor
• Free visits to the hospital
• Free hearing care
• Free dental care
• Free vision care
• Free laboratory services and X-rays
• Free Vaccination
• Free prescription drugs
• Free physical therapy
• Free occupational therapy
• Free speech and language training
• Free medical equipment - supplies
• Free transportation for treatment where necessary
• Free mental health clinic services
• Free psychological tests and therapy
• Free help scheduling appointments

To find a center that offers LaCHIP services, visit:

• Support coordination therapy
• Early steps
• Waiver services

To receive these benefits, you must contact the DHH Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities. A list of the offices and their addresses can be found here

Basically, LaCHIP covers just about every health need a child would have growing up through age 18. There are no co-payments, deductibles or monthly premiums for LaCHIP except for families who are at certain income levels.

Eligibility Requirements

A child eligible for LaCHIP is one who:

• Is aged 18 or below
• Is a resident of Louisiana
• Is a US citizen; or
• Is a legal alien
• Is not covered by any other health insurance
• Family income cannot be more than 217% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL, or $4395 monthly for a family of four)

The income eligibility for LaCHIP is as follows:

Number in Family (including child)	217% FPL Monthly Income (2018)
1	$2,196
2	$2,977
3	$3,758
4	$4,539
5	$5,321
6	$6,102
7	$6,883
8	$7,664
More than 8	For each additional person, add $782 to the monthly amount.

All child support paid to the family must be signed over to the state.

Applicants are advised that they may still be eligible even if they earn more than these amounts because of the following and other deductions that are applicable to countable income:

• $90.00 deducted for every income unit member who's employed
• Up to $50.00 disregarded from child support payments
• If child support is paid out, the amount stated on the court order is directly deducted
• $200.00 deducted from Childcare payments for each child under the age of 2

If you feel that you were denied LaCHIP (or Medicaid) coverage unfairly, learn how to file an appeal by visiting this link.

LaCHIP Application Instructions

The recommended way to apply for LaCHIP, and the best for those who have access to the Internet, is to go to the Louisiana Medicaid Online Application Center, create an account, fill out information and send an application form through this link.

Applying for LaCHIP online is the fastest way your application can reach the Department of Health and Hospitals. Also, having your application details thus stored online makes renewal (which must be done every 12 months) much easier - all one has to do is to review the details and make any changes required rather than complete a whole form again.

Another way is to download the application form, print it, fill it out and send it to the Medicaid office along with any required documents.

The form should be mailed or faxed to:

LaCHIP Processing Office
P. O. Box 91278
Baton Rouge, LA 70821-9278
Fax: 1-877-LA FAX US (1-877-523-2987)

An alternative is to call the Medicaid office on 1-877-2LaCHIP (1-877-252-2447) and give them your details over the phone so they can sign your children up for LaCHIP. You may also request a form through the same hotline.