Medicaid & CHIP pediatric dental coverage — state-by-state guide
A plain-language reference for families: what Medicaid and CHIP cover for kids' dental care, how to qualify, and where to find covered providers in your state.
What is EPSDT?
EPSDT stands for Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment. It's the federal Medicaid benefit for everyone under age 21, and it requires every state Medicaid program to cover comprehensive preventive and primary dental services for children — at no out-of-pocket cost to the family. EPSDT is why your child's cleanings, fluoride, sealants, fillings, crowns, and even orthodontia (when medically necessary) are covered when they're enrolled in Medicaid, no matter what state you live in.
How is CHIP different from Medicaid?
The Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) covers kids in families that earn slightly above the Medicaid income limit. Each state sets its own CHIP income threshold, ranging from about 175% of the federal poverty level (the lowest, in North Dakota) to 405% (the highest, in New York). Most states fall between 200% and 300% FPL. CHIP dental benefits are required by federal law to be at least as comprehensive as Medicaid's EPSDT benefit, so the actual dental coverage is essentially the same.
How do I apply?
You can apply for Medicaid or CHIP three ways: (1) at HealthCare.gov, (2) directly with your state Medicaid agency (the directory below links to each one), or (3) at any community health center listed on SmileFinder — every clinic has an enrollment counselor who can determine eligibility and submit the application on your behalf, often the same day as your child's first visit.
State directory
Click your state below to see the official Medicaid and CHIP program names, the current income threshold, and a directory of every community health center in the state offering pediatric dental care.
- Alabama — Alabama Medicaid Agency · ALL Kids · CHIP up to 317% FPL · 221 clinics
- Alaska — Alaska Medicaid (DenaliCare) · Denali KidCare · CHIP up to 208% FPL · 228 clinics
- American Samoa — American Samoa Medicaid · Medicaid · CHIP up to 200% FPL · 8 clinics
- Arizona — AHCCCS · KidsCare · CHIP up to 205% FPL · 286 clinics
- Arkansas — Arkansas Medicaid (ARKids First) · ARKids B · CHIP up to 216% FPL · 277 clinics
- California — Medi-Cal / Denti-Cal · Medi-Cal for Kids · CHIP up to 266% FPL · 3,004 clinics
- Colorado — Health First Colorado · Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) · CHIP up to 265% FPL · 296 clinics
- Connecticut — HUSKY Health · HUSKY B · CHIP up to 323% FPL · 467 clinics
- Delaware — Delaware Medical Assistance Program (DMAP) · Delaware Healthy Children Program · CHIP up to 217% FPL · 15 clinics
- District of Columbia — DC Healthy Families · DC Healthy Families · CHIP up to 324% FPL · 77 clinics
- Federated States of Micronesia — FSM Medicaid (compact) · Medicaid · CHIP up to 200% FPL · 15 clinics
- Florida — Florida Medicaid (Statewide Medicaid Managed Care) · Florida KidCare (MediKids/CMS) · CHIP up to 215% FPL · 795 clinics
- Georgia — Georgia Medicaid · PeachCare for Kids · CHIP up to 252% FPL · 464 clinics
- Guam — Guam Medicaid (MIP) · MIP · CHIP up to 200% FPL · 2 clinics
- Hawaii — Med-QUEST · Med-QUEST · CHIP up to 313% FPL · 136 clinics
- Idaho — Idaho Smiles (Medicaid Dental) · Idaho CHIP · CHIP up to 190% FPL · 242 clinics
- Illinois — Illinois Medicaid (HealthChoice Illinois) · All Kids · CHIP up to 318% FPL · 554 clinics
- Indiana — Indiana Health Coverage Programs · Hoosier Healthwise · CHIP up to 255% FPL · 490 clinics
- Iowa — IA Health Link / Dental Wellness Plan · Hawki · CHIP up to 307% FPL · 128 clinics
- Kansas — KanCare · KanCare · CHIP up to 247% FPL · 183 clinics
- Kentucky — Kentucky Medicaid · KCHIP · CHIP up to 218% FPL · 673 clinics
- Louisiana — Healthy Louisiana / LaCHIP · LaCHIP · CHIP up to 255% FPL · 550 clinics
- Maine — MaineCare · MaineCare for Kids (CubCare) · CHIP up to 213% FPL · 188 clinics
- Marshall Islands — Marshall Islands Medicaid · Medicaid · CHIP up to 200% FPL · 6 clinics
- Maryland — Maryland Healthy Smiles · Maryland Children's Health Program (MCHP) · CHIP up to 322% FPL · 171 clinics
- Massachusetts — MassHealth · MassHealth/CMSP · CHIP up to 305% FPL · 300 clinics
- Michigan — Healthy Michigan / MIChild · MIChild · CHIP up to 217% FPL · 490 clinics
- Minnesota — Minnesota Health Care Programs · MinnesotaCare · CHIP up to 288% FPL · 98 clinics
- Mississippi — Mississippi Medicaid (MississippiCAN) · Mississippi CHIP · CHIP up to 214% FPL · 330 clinics
- Missouri — MO HealthNet · MO HealthNet for Kids · CHIP up to 305% FPL · 491 clinics
- Montana — Montana Medicaid / Healthy Montana Kids · Healthy Montana Kids (HMK) · CHIP up to 261% FPL · 149 clinics
- Nebraska — Nebraska Medicaid (Heritage Health) · Kids Connection · CHIP up to 218% FPL · 96 clinics
- Nevada — Nevada Medicaid / Nevada Check Up · Nevada Check Up · CHIP up to 205% FPL · 79 clinics
- New Hampshire — NH Medicaid / Granite Advantage · NH Children's Health Insurance Program · CHIP up to 323% FPL · 78 clinics
- New Jersey — NJ FamilyCare · NJ FamilyCare · CHIP up to 355% FPL · 164 clinics
- New Mexico — New Mexico Medicaid (Centennial Care) · New Mexicans Dental · CHIP up to 305% FPL · 261 clinics
- New York — New York Medicaid / Child Health Plus · Child Health Plus · CHIP up to 405% FPL · 864 clinics
- North Carolina — NC Medicaid / NC Health Choice · NC Health Choice · CHIP up to 216% FPL · 791 clinics
- North Dakota — North Dakota Medicaid / Healthy Steps · Healthy Steps · CHIP up to 175% FPL · 35 clinics
- Northern Mariana Islands — CNMI Medicaid · CNMI Medicaid · CHIP up to 200% FPL · 4 clinics
- Ohio — Ohio Medicaid · Healthy Start · CHIP up to 211% FPL · 615 clinics
- Oklahoma — SoonerCare · SoonerCare · CHIP up to 210% FPL · 221 clinics
- Oregon — Oregon Health Plan · Healthy Kids · CHIP up to 305% FPL · 332 clinics
- Pennsylvania — Pennsylvania Medicaid (HealthChoices) · PA CHIP · CHIP up to 319% FPL · 483 clinics
- Puerto Rico — Plan de Salud del Gobierno (Vital) · Plan Vital · CHIP up to 250% FPL · 168 clinics
- Republic of Palau — Palau Medicaid · Medicaid · CHIP up to 200% FPL · 11 clinics
- Rhode Island — RIte Care / RIte Smiles · RIte Care · CHIP up to 261% FPL · 68 clinics
- South Carolina — South Carolina Healthy Connections · Partners for Healthy Children · CHIP up to 213% FPL · 336 clinics
- South Dakota — South Dakota Medicaid · CHIP · CHIP up to 209% FPL · 43 clinics
- Tennessee — TennCare · CoverKids · CHIP up to 255% FPL · 246 clinics
- Texas — Texas Medicaid / CHIP · Texas CHIP · CHIP up to 206% FPL · 833 clinics
- U.S. Virgin Islands — USVI Medical Assistance Program · MAP · CHIP up to 200% FPL · 6 clinics
- Utah — Utah Medicaid / CHIP · CHIP · CHIP up to 205% FPL · 65 clinics
- Vermont — Vermont Medicaid (Dr. Dynasaur) · Dr. Dynasaur · CHIP up to 317% FPL · 102 clinics
- Virginia — Virginia Smiles for Children · FAMIS · CHIP up to 205% FPL · 239 clinics
- Washington — Apple Health for Kids · Apple Health for Kids · CHIP up to 317% FPL · 476 clinics
- West Virginia — WV Medicaid / WVCHIP · WV Children's Health Insurance Program · CHIP up to 305% FPL · 538 clinics
- Wisconsin — BadgerCare Plus · BadgerCare Plus · CHIP up to 306% FPL · 315 clinics
- Wyoming — Wyoming Medicaid / Kid Care CHIP · Kid Care CHIP · CHIP up to 205% FPL · 29 clinics