Pregnant women
We are here for pregnant and new moms.
We have benefits to help you through your pregnancy and as a new mom:
- Prenatal and postpartum visits, including doula services
- Prescription drug coverage
- Labor and delivery costs
- Regular medical checkups, immunizations and prescriptions for your baby after birth
CHIP Perinate covers pregnant women and new moms.
You may be able to get perinatal coverage from CHIP if all of the following apply to you:
- You are pregnant.
- You are a Texas resident.
- You don’t have insurance.
- You cannot get Medicaid.
CHIP Perinate coverage is for your unborn baby. It covers:
- Up to 20 prenatal visits
- Prescriptions
- Labor and delivery costs
- Two doctor visits for mom after birth
- Regular medical check-ups, immunizations and prescriptions for your baby.
Dell Children’s Health Plan offers value-added services to keep pregnant women, new moms and newborns healthy and safe.
- 24-hour Nurse HelpLine at 1-855-712-6700 (TTY 7-1-1) to help answer your health questions.
- $25 reward for women receiving a chlamydia screening by age 24. STAR members only. The CDC recommends that all pregnant women get screened for chlamydia at their first prenatal visit.
- $75 reward for getting a prenatal checkup in the first trimester or within 42 days of enrollment with the health plan in any trimester.
- Up to $500 for dental checkups, X-rays, cleanings, fillings and extractions each year for pregnant CHIP Perinate members age 19 and older and pregnant STAR members age 21 and older.
- Home visits for members when pregnant and doula services during delivery.
- Help getting a ride to pregnancy or birthing classes, WIC offices, food banks, grocery stores, Dell Children’s Health Plan meetings, child day care, houses of worship, employment search locations, libraries and other approved locations.
- A convertible car seat for going to 6 prenatal visits while a member of Dell Children’s Health Plan.
- A special self-care book with tips on caring for yourself and your baby while you are pregnant.
- Pregnancy classes to help members prepare for childbirth and to educate and inform about each trimester, delivery and the postpartum period. Visit Any Baby Can for more information. Self-paced online classes are also available.
- Online pregnancy and early parenting program accessible 24/7 to support new and expecting parents.
- Visit myStrength.com or download the myStrength mobile app.
- Select Sign up.
- Use access code: DCHP and complete a brief myStrength Wellness Assessment and personal profile.
*Excludes CHIP Perinate members.
- 24-hour Nurse HelpLine at 1-855-712-6700 (TTY 7-1-1) to help answer your health questions.
- $100 reward for getting a postpartum checkup 7 to 84 days after giving birth.
- $75 reward for members who complete 5 of the “Combo 10” vaccines and an additional $125 reward for members who complete all of the “Combo 10” vaccines by 24 months of age.
- $120 reward for members who get all 6 Texas Health Steps or well-child checkups, newborn through 15 months of age.
- $20 reward for each timely Texas Health Steps or well-child checkups at 18, 24 and 30 months.
- A book about caring for your new baby and information about caring for yourself after birth.
- Doula home visits for members after delivery.*
- Fresh food delivery up to three months postpartum, one delivery each month.*
- Help getting a ride to WIC offices, food banks, grocery stores, Dell Children’s Health Plan meetings, child day care, houses of worship, employment search locations, libraries and other approved locations.
- Online pregnancy and early parenting program accessible 24/7 to support new and expecting parents.
- Visit myStrength.com or download the myStrength mobile app.
- Select Sign up.
- Use access code: DCHP and complete a brief myStrength Wellness Assessment and personal profile.
*Excludes CHIP Perinate members.
Visit our Special Delivery Pregnancy Program page.
Postpartum Medicaid and CHIP coverage
The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) extended its postpartum Medicaid coverage from two to 12 months for eligible women, effective March 1, 2024.
HHSC is also providing 12 months of postpartum CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program) coverage. The 12 months of postpartum coverage begins the month after a pregnancy has ended.
Effective March 1, 2024, eligible recipients include:
- Medicaid or CHIP recipients who are pregnant or become pregnant and women who enroll because they become pregnant.
- CHIP Perinatal (CHIP-P) recipients are not eligible for 12 months of postpartum coverage. They’ll continue to receive CHIP-P coverage through the end of the month when their pregnancy ends plus two postpartum visits.
- Medicaid or CHIP recipients who were enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP while pregnant or are no longer pregnant but are still within their 12-month postpartum period.
- Women who transitioned from Medicaid or CHIP to Healthy Texas Women (HTW) after their pregnancy ended and who are within their 12-month postpartum period will be reinstated to full coverage Medicaid or CHIP.
- Women who received services while pregnant in Texas that would have been covered by Medicaid but who apply for Medicaid after their pregnancy ends. Medicaid applicants with unpaid medical bills can apply for coverage for up to three months before their application month. This doesn’t apply to CHIP applicants.
Your Medicaid or CHIP coverage will be reinstated beginning on March 1, 2024, until the end of your 12-month postpartum period.
No, you don’t need to apply to have your coverage extended. Coverage will be extended for current Medicaid and CHIP recipients.
Coverage will be reinstated for women who are not current Medicaid or CHIP recipients but who were enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP in Texas while pregnant and are still within their 12-month postpartum period (if they are still residents of Texas).
Women who transitioned from Medicaid or CHIP to HTW after their pregnancy ended and who are within their 12-month postpartum period will be reinstated to full coverage Medicaid or CHIP.
Only women who are not currently enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP and were not enrolled in Medicaid coverage during their pregnancy need to apply to receive this benefit. Medicaid recipients with unpaid medical bills can apply for coverage for up to three months prior to their application month. This doesn’t apply to CHIP recipients.
Medicaid or CHIP covered services remain available in the 12-month postpartum period. This is including but not limited to:
- Regular medical checkups
- Prescription drugs and vaccines
- Hospital care and services
- X-rays and lab tests
- Vision and hearing care
- Access to medical specialists and mental health care
- Treatment of special health needs and pre-existing conditions
You’ll get a notice by mail or through Your Texas Benefits (if you’ve chosen to receive notices electronically).
All Medicaid and CHIP recipients should go to YourTexasBenefits.com or call 2-1-1 and choose Option 2, to make sure your mailing address and contact information are up to date.
Yes, if you are still within your 12-month postpartum period. Beginning on March 1, your coverage will be reinstated for the rest of your 12-month postpartum period.
Yes, you’re still eligible for coverage for 12 months after your pregnancy ended.
If you report a new pregnancy while in your 12-month postpartum period, your eligibility will be reviewed for Medicaid or CHIP.
If you’re eligible for Medicaid or CHIP for your new pregnancy, you’ll receive coverage for the pregnancy and for 12 months after the new pregnancy ends.
You would remain enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP for your entire first 12-month postpartum period unless you:
- Voluntarily withdraw
- Move out of Texas
- Are determined ineligible because of fraud, abuse or perjury
- Die
If you are currently receiving Medicaid or CHIP services you won’t get a new Medicaid or CHIP ID card for the 12-month postpartum coverage period. If you previously received Medicaid or CHIP services that are being reinstated or you’re newly applying for coverage, you’ll get a new Medicaid or CHIP ID card.
In most cases, you’ll be enrolled in your prior managed care plan. If you have questions about enrollment in managed care, contact the Enrollment Broker at 1-800-964-2777.
If you’re currently receiving CHIP services and were found eligible by HHSC to receive 12-month postpartum coverage, you won’t need to pay another enrollment fee to get 12-month postpartum coverage.
HHSC will attempt to automatically renew your Medicaid or CHIP coverage about two months before your 12-month postpartum period ends. If you aren’t eligible for full coverage Medicaid or CHIP, HHSC will determine if you’re eligible for the HTW program. If HHSC can’t automatically verify your eligibility, they will send you a renewal packet. Your renewal application must be returned within 30 days.
To learn more, visit the HHS Medicaid for Pregnant Women and CHIP Perinatal webpage, or call 2-1-1 and choose Option 2.
