Additional Resources

Overview of Eligibility for Non-Citizens in Medicaid and CHIP

The Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 (CHIPRA) included a new option for states to provide Medicaid and CHIP coverage to children and pregnant women who are lawfully residing in the United States, including those within their first five years of having certain legal status. Previously, federal law required a 5-year waiting period before many legal immigrants were permitted to enroll in Medicaid and CHIP, although many states offered health coverage to these populations with state-only funds. This coverage may be applied to pregnant women in Medicaid and CHIP and/or to children up to age 19 for CHIP or up to age 21 for Medicaid who would otherwise be eligible for coverage through these programs.

Learn more about providing health coverage to lawfully residing children and pregnant women .

States providing Medicaid or CHIP coverage to lawfully residing children and/or pregnant women include:

State CHIP Medicaid American Samoa*** Children and pregnant women Arkansas Children Children and pregnant women* California Children Children and pregnant women Colorado Children and pregnant women Children and pregnant women* Connecticut Children Children and pregnant women Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI)*** Children and pregnant women* Washington, D.C.*** Children and pregnant women Delaware Children Children and pregnant women Florida Children Children* Georgia Children Children and pregnant women* Hawaii*** Children and pregnant women* Illinois*** Children* Iowa Children Children Kentucky*** Pregnant women Children and pregnant women* Louisiana Children Children* Maine*** Children and pregnant women Maryland*** Children and pregnant women Massachusetts Children Children and pregnant women Michigan*** Children and pregnant women Minnesota*** Children and pregnant women Montana Children Children* Nebraska*** Children and pregnant women* New Hampshire*** Children and pregnant women* New Jersey Children and pregnant women Children and pregnant women New Mexico*** Children and pregnant women New York Children Children and pregnant women Nevada Children Children and pregnant women* North Carolina*** Children and pregnant women* North Dakota Pregnant women Ohio*** Children and pregnant women Oregon*** Children* Pennsylvania Children Children and pregnant women Rhode Island*** Pregnant women Children and pregnant women* South Carolina*** Children and pregnant women Texas Children Children* U.S. Virgin Islands*** Children and pregnant women Utah Children Children* Vermont*** Children and pregnant women Virginia** Children and pregnant women Children and pregnant women* Washington Children Children and pregnant women West Virginia Children and pregnant women Children and pregnant women* Wisconsin Children Children and pregnant women* Wyoming Pregnant women

Updated as of April 2, 2026.

* These states cover children in Medicaid up to age 19.

** Virginia is using an 1115 demonstration to cover pregnant women.

*** These states are CHIP Medicaid expansion programs for their CHIPRA 214 child population.