ALERT: We have made the Texas Children’s Health Plan website even easier to use! Click here to learn more.
ALERTA: ¡Ahora el sitio web de Texas Children’s Health Plan es aún más sencillo de usar! Haz clic aquí para más información.
New rules will require you to renew your plan. Find out what you need to do today.
Texas Children’s Health Plan was founded in 1996 by Texas Children’s Hospital. We are the nation's first health maintenance organization (HMO) created just for children. We cover kids, teens, pregnant women, and adults. If you are able to get Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), we have a large group of more than 4,300 doctors, 6,800 specialists, 118 hospitals, and health resources to care for your needs.
Finding the right health plan for your family is important. Below you’ll find some of the exclusive benefits that are available to Texas Children’s Health Plan members.
It’s easier to renew while you still have CHIP and/or Medicaid coverage, and having good healthcare will prepare you for whatever comes your way. Renew now to continue access to benefits like doctor visits, prescriptions and dental care.
At Texas Children’s Health Plan, we go beyond our members’ medical needs. We offer extra benefits for you and your family to enjoy, in addition to rewarding you for keeping track of your health!
The Center - Southwest is now closed. Starting July 1, 2024, it will be replaced by Texas Children’s Pediatrics (TCP) - Westwood.
Texas Children’s Health Plan is dedicated to helping you have a healthy pregnancy. Learn more about the resources and services available to pregnant members.
HHSC continues to require of Texas Children’s Health Plan to allow an extension for up to 30 days for members to request continuation of benefits after they receive an adverse benefit determination. This continuation of benefits extension time frame will end June 30, 2021.
Starting July 1, 2021, Texas Children’s Health Plan must apply the normal, regular and set timeframes for members to request continuation of benefits, which is no later than 10 days from the date they receive the adverse benefit determination notice.
Veyo Member Transportation Line:
For more information about Veyo "Where's my ride" benefit click here.
Lost your coverage? There are a number of programs offered through Texas Health and Human Services that can help.
Each program has rules for who can join. Visit the links above for more information on what they cover and how to join.
Texas Children’s Health Plan provides a Member Advocate to assist you if you have a complaint. Our team of member advocates will help you write and file a complaint or appeal on your behalf and monitor it until it is resolved. We have a member advocate dedicated for each line of business and service delivery area. We speak English and Spanish. We also have interpreters available by phone who speak 140 different languages.
To have a Member Advocate assigned to you, call 866-219-5411.
Before going to the Emergency Room, call the Nurse Help Line (unless it is an emergency). You can get advice from a nurse about health issues you may be having. You can also get tips on understanding doctor’s instructions, and more. We are available 24-hours a day, 7 days a week. We speak English or Spanish. We also have interpreters available by phone who speak 140 different languages.
1-800-686-3831 or TTY 1-800-735-2989
Our Member Services Team is ready to take your call from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. After hours, on weekends and holidays, our answering service is ready to help you and/or take your messages. A Member Service Advocate will return your call the next business day. We speak English or Spanish. We also have interpreters available by phone who speak 140 different languages. Emergency Service and Behavioral Health services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Here are some services our team can help you with, if needed:
Member Services Program Hotlines:
In case of an emergency, go to your nearest in-network emergency room or call 9-1-1.
Emergency Service and Behavioral Health services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. No primary care provider referral is needed. The hotline has people who speak English and Spanish. Interpreters who speak 140 different languages are also available by phone. If you have an emergency and need treatment immediately, call 9-1-1 or go to the nearest emergency room.
Behavioral Health/Substance Abuse Hotline:
Provider Services Hotline
Providers can use this number for claims, inquiries, questions, and information about CHIP, STAR, or STAR Kids products and to check eligibility/benefits.
Phone: 832-828-1004, Toll free: 1-877-213-5508
Hours 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT, Monday through Friday.
After hours, on weekends and holidays, our answering service is ready to help you and/or take your messages. A Member Service Advocate will return your call the next business day.
Telephone TouCHPoint
Texas Children’s Health Plan’s automated Telephone TouCHPoint system allows Texas Children’s Health Plan providers to check eligibility, benefits, and claims status after hours. The service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To access Telephone TouCHPoint call 832-828-1007. Enter the member’s identification number and the provider’s NPI number.
Telephone TouCHPoint: 832-828-1007
Fax: 832-825-8777
The Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) offers low-cost health coverage for children from birth through age 18. CHIP is designed for families who earn too much money to qualify for Medicaid but cannot afford to buy private health coverage.
We offer CHIP in more than 20 counties in the Jefferson and Harris Service Areas.
Click here to learn more about CHIP.
STAR is a Medicaid-managed care plan. This plan helps family members of any age. Texas Children’s Health Plan offers STAR in more than 20 counties in the Jefferson and Harris Service Areas. Learn more about STAR.
Click here to learn more about the STAR program.
STAR Kids is a Medicaid-managed care plan. This plan helps children and young adults under the age of 21 with disabilities. Texas Children’s Health Plan offers STAR Kids in the Harris, Jefferson and Northeast Service Areas.
Click here to learn more about the STAR Kids program.
Texas Children’s Health Plan offers CHIP perinatal services. CHIP prenatal is no-cost health coverage for pregnant women. To get CHIP perinatal, you must:
Click here to learn more about CHIP Perinatal.
How is the Texas Vendor Drug Program (VDP) used for Texas Children's Health Plan Medicaid members?
Navitus is the provider for drug store services for members. The Texas VDP maintains and publishes the Texas VDP Formulary and the associated PDL. It also maintains and publishes the clinical guidelines for drugs not on the PDL which require pre-approval, and are used by Navitus to give benefits for Texas Children's Health Plan STAR and CHIP members.
What drug stores does Navitus have contracts with?
Navitus has contracts with more than 95% of the VDP providers in Texas. The Navitus drug store network includes national chain drug stores such as Walgreen's, CVS, HEB, Wal-Mart, Target, and Kroger. And many others. Navitus' drug store network can be found here.
Contact Member Services at 1-866-959-6555 (CHIP) or 1-866-959-2555 (STAR) if you need help finding a drug store.
We want you to have the best resources for your health. Here is a list of helpful websites and links to our vendors:
Prescriptions
Vision Care
Dental Care
Your child will have one of the following dental plans:
If you don't know who your child's CHIP dental plans is, call CHIP toll-free at 1-866-959-6555
A State Fair Hearing is a chance for you tell the reasons why you think the services you asked for and couldn’t get should be allowed.
Can I ask for a State Fair Hearing? If you, as a member of Texas Children’s Health Plan, disagree with the health plan’s decision, you have the right to ask for a fair hearing. You may name someone to represent you by writing a letter to the health plan telling them the name of the person you want to represent you. A doctor or other medical provider may be your representative. If you want to challenge a decision made by Texas Children’s Health Plan, you or your representative must ask for the fair hearing at any time up until 90 days of the date on the health plan’s letter with the decision. If you do not ask for the fair hearing within 90 days, you may lose your right to a State Fair Hearing.
To ask for a State Fair Hearing, you or your representative should either send a letter to the health plan or call:
Texas Children’s Health Plan
Attention: Appeals Department NB8390
PO Box 300709
Houston, TX 77230
Fax: 832-825-8796
Phone: 832-828-1001 or 1-866-959-2555
TTY/TDD: 1-800-735-2989 (Texas Relay) or 7-1-1
Provides free aids and services to people with disabilities to communicate effectively with us, such as:
Provides free language services to people whose primary language is not English, such as:
If you need these services, contact Texas Children’s Health Plan Member Services Department at 866-959-2555 (STAR),
866-959-6555 (CHIP), 800-659-5764 (STAR Kids) (TTY 7-1-1)
Through the new online member portal, Texas Children’s Health Plan members can use their health data to discover the latest health care and fitness apps. Once connected, you will be able to get an accurate picture of your health and elevate your fitness progress to new heights. | Learn more