CHIP, Medicare and Medicaid Programs

July 24, 2025 

Understanding Medicaid, Medicare, and CHIP

Why this matters:

Many people in the U.S. living with ME/CFS are on, or eligible for, Medicare, Medicaid or CHIP. Medicare is the same in every state (it doesn't have a different name), but plan options and assistance programs can vary by location.

For Medicaid and/or CHIP insurance names and programs can vary by state, and it’s not always obvious that your coverage is through Medicaid or includes CHIP. This guide is meant to help clarify that.

Key Program Differences

Medicare has the same name in every state (it doesn't have a different name), but plan options and assistance programs can vary by location.

A Federal health insurance program for:

• People 65 and older

• Individuals under 65 with certain disabilities

• People with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD)

Parts of Medicare:

• Part A – Hospital insurance

• Part B – Medical insurance

• Part C – Medicare Advantage (private plans approved by Medicare)

• Part D – Prescription drug coverage

What varies by state:

• Part C and Part D plan availability (offered by private insurers, vary by county)

• Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs) – help with premiums and cost-sharing

• State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPs) – offer free guidance

• Dual Eligibility – people with both Medicare and Medicaid may have different benefits depending on the state

Medicaid

A joint federal and state program that provides free or low-cost health coverage for:

• Eligible low-income adults

• Children

• Pregnant individuals

• People with disabilities

CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program)

• Covers children in families with incomes too high for Medicaid but still needing affordable insurance.

• In many states CHIP is combined with Medicaid, so families may not see “CHIP” listed separately on their insurance cards.

Why We’re Sharing This

ME/CFS San Diego created this guide to help the ME/CFS community and their families better understand which program they're covered under—especially since names and details can vary by state.

Medicaid Program Names by States and Territories (2025)

AK Medicaid (branded Denali Care)

AL Alabama Medicaid (some refer to “Alabama Care”)

AZ Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS)

AR Arkansas Medicaid (aka ConnectCare)

CA Medi‑Cal

CO Health First Colorado

CT HuskyHealth (Medicaid + CHIP)

DE Diamond State Health Plan (Plus)

FL Statewide Medicaid Managed Care Program (SMMC, MMA & LTC)

GA Georgia Medicaid (a.k.a. PeachState plan)

HI Med‑QUEST

ID Idaho Medicaid

IL Medical Assistance Program (Part of Illinois Medicaid)

IN Indiana Medicaid (branded programs: Hoosier Healthwise, Hoosier Care Connect, HIP etc.)

IA IA Health Link

KS KanCare / Kansas Medical Assistance Program

KY Kentucky Medicaid

LA Healthy Louisiana (Bayou Health)

ME MaineCare

MD Maryland Medicaid (Medical Assistance)

MA MassHealth

MI Michigan Medicaid Program (includes Healthy Michigan, MMAP)

MN Minnesota Medical Assistance / MinnesotaCare

MS MississippiCAN (Mississippi Coordinated Access Network)

MO MO HealthNet

MT Montana Medicaid

NE ACCESSNebraska / Nebraska Medical Assistance Program

NV Nevada Medicaid

NH New Hampshire Medicaid (Medical Assistance)

NJ NJ FamilyCare

NM Centennial Care

NY New York State Medicaid / Medicaid Managed Care

NC North Carolina Medicaid / Division of Health Benefits

ND North Dakota Medicaid Expansion Program

OH Ohio Medicaid

OK SoonerCare

OR Oregon Health Plan

PA Medical Assistance

RI RI Medical Assistance Program

SC Healthy Connections

SD South Dakota Medicaid

TN TennCare

TX Texas Medicaid (STAR / STAR+PLUS)

UT Utah Medicaid (Dept. of Health & Human Services)

VT Vermont Medicaid / Dr. Dynasaur (Green Mountain Care)

VA Virginia Medicaid (Cardinal Care / Apple Health branding mix-up)

WA Apple Health

WV West Virginia Medicaid

WI BadgerCare Plus / Wisconsin Medicaid

WY Wyoming Medicaid

DC DC Medicaid (Healthy Families)

Puerto Rico Mi Salud, Medicare Platino

U.S. Virgin Islands Medical Assistance Program (MAP

Guam Guam Medicaid

American Samoa American Samoa Medicaid

Northern Mariana Islands CNMI Medicaid (§1902(j) waiver)

CHIP Program Names by State & Territory (2025)

Alabama ALL Kids
Alaska Denali KidCare
Arizona KidsCare
Arkansas ARKids First!
California Medi‑Cal for Kids
Colorado Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+)
Connecticut HUSKY B (under HUSKYHealth)
District of Columbia DC Healthy Families
Delaware Diamond State Health Plan Plus
Florida Florida KidCare
Georgia PeachCare for Kids
Hawaii Med‑QUEST
Idaho Idaho Medicaid (includes CHIP)
Illinois All Kids
Indiana Hoosier Healthwise
Iowa Healthy and Well Kids in Iowa (hawk-i)
Kansas KanCare (includes CHIP component)
Kentucky Kentucky CHIP (KCHIP)
Louisiana LaCHIP
Maine Cub Care
Maryland Maryland Children’s Health Program (MCHP)
Massachusetts MassHealth (includes CHIP)
Michigan MIChild
Minnesota MinnesotaCare (includes CHIP)
Mississippi Mississippi CHIP
Missouri MO HealthNet for Kids
Montana Healthy Montana Kids
Nebraska Kids Connection
Nevada Nevada Check Up
New Hampshire NH Medicaid (includes CHIP)
New Jersey NJ FamilyCare (includes CHIP)
New Mexico Centennial Care for Children
New York Child Health Plus (ChPlus)
North Carolina NC Health Choice for Children
North Dakota Healthy Steps
Ohio Healthy Start (CHIP)
Oklahoma SoonerCare (includes CHIP)
Oregon Oregon Health Plan (includes CHIP)
Pennsylvania CHIP
Rhode Island RIte Care (includes CHIP)
South Carolina Healthy Connections Kids
South Dakota CHIP
Tennessee CoverKids
Texas Children's Health Insurance Program (under HHSC)
Utah Utah CHIP
Vermont Dr. Dynasaur
Virginia FAMIS (Family Access to Medical Insurance Security)
Washington Apple Health for Kids
West Virginia WV CHIP
Wisconsin BadgerCare Plus (includes CHIP)
Wyoming KidCare CHIP

Puerto Rico: Mi Salud (Medicaid + CHIP integrated)
Guam: Guam CHIP Program
American Samoa: American Samoa CHIP
Northern Mariana Islands: CNMI CHIP (waiver under §1902(j))
U.S. Virgin Islands: Medical Assistance Program (includes CHIP)