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Understanding CHIP costs

Are you or your child eligible for the Pennsylvania Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)? If so, you may enroll in one of three types of coverage: free, low cost or full cost. Learn more about your coverage options, premiums and how to pay them, if needed. 

Types of CHIP coverage  

 

The coverage type that you’re eligible for will depend on your family’s size and income. 

 

  • Free CHIP (no monthly premiums)

  • Is your household income above the free CHIP limits? If so, and you’re eligible for low-cost or full-cost CHIP, you’ll need to pay a monthly premium and copays.


    You’ll be required to pay the first month's premium to enroll in low-cost or full-cost CHIP. Thereafter, you’ll receive a monthly billing statement from Aetna Better Health® Kids.

More about premiums

  • Premiums are the monthly payments that you pay to Aetna Better Health Kids for CHIP coverage.

     

    Those enrolled in low-cost or full-cost CHIP will receive a monthly bill for the upcoming month’s coverage (for example: you’d receive a bill in April for coverage in May). Members with free CHIP coverage don’t need to pay a premium.

  • Need to pay a premium for your coverage? If so, you’ll want to do it on time. 

     

    What happens when you don’t pay on time?

    If you can't pay your premium on time, call us at 1-800-822-2447 (TTY: 711). We’ll talk with you about payment options and the future status of your child’s enrollment.  

     

    Keep your contact info up to date

    Make sure that any info we have from you, such as your address and phone number, stays current. If needed, you’ll receive monthly invoices and premium change notices from us at your address on file.

     

    Questions? Call us at 1-800-822-2447 (TTY: 711).

     

Find your region’s premium

Your county falls within one of two regions: 

 

  • Southeastern Pennsylvania 

  • Central Pennsylvania

To see your monthly premium rate, choose the region your county is in. 

 

Not sure which region your county belongs to? 

We’ve included the full list of counties below each region. You can find your county on one of these lists. 

  • Here are the premium rates for the counties within the Southeastern Pennsylvania region:

     

    Monthly premium rate (per member):

     

    • Free CHIP: $0.00  

    • Low-cost CHIP 1: $50.30

    • Low-cost CHIP 2: $70.42 

    • Low-cost CHIP 3: $80.48

    • Full-cost CHIP: $199.93 

    Counties in the Southeastern Pennsylvania region:

     

    • Berks 

    • Bucks 

    • Chester 

    • Delaware 

    • Lackawanna

    • Lehigh 

    • Luzerne

    • Lycoming 

    • Monroe

    • Montgomery 

    • Northampton 

    • Northumberland

    • Philadelphia 

    • Schuylkill 

  • Here are the premium rates for the counties within the Central Pennsylvania region:

     

    Monthly premium rate (per member):

     

    • Free CHIP: $0.00 

    • Low-cost CHIP 1: $44.91

    • Low-cost CHIP 2: $62.87

    • Low-cost CHIP 3: $71.85

    • Full-cost CHIP: $163.73 

    Counties in the Central Pennsylvania region:

     

    • Adams

    • Allegheny

    • Armstrong

    • Beaver

    • Bedford

    • Blair

    • Butler

    • Cambria

    • Centre

    • Clearfield

    • Crawford

    • Cumberland

    • Dauphin

    • Erie

    • Fayette

    • Franklin

    • Fulton

    • Indiana

    • Lancaster

    • Lawrence

    • Lebanon

    • Mercer

    • Perry

    • Somerset

    • Washington

    • Westmoreland

    • York

How to pay your premium

Need to pay your premium? You have a few options:

 

  • Online

    You can pay by credit card or debit card using the Aetna Better Health Kids payment system.

  • By phone

    If you have your member ID and invoice number, you can call our automated line at 1-877-222-2004 (TTY: 711).

  • By mail (check or money order)

    You can make your check or money order out to Aetna CHIP and mail it to: 
    Aetna Better Health Kids 
    PO Box 785656 
    Philadelphia, PA 19178-5656

  • In person (at select retail stores)

    You can pay in person with cash, credit or debit card at select retail stores. Just scan the barcode that comes with your monthly invoice when you visit a store.

    More about paying at select retail stores (PDF)

Legal notices

 

For your security and protection, the Aetna Better Health Kids payment system is provided by Citibank N.A.


All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

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