Welcome New Members!
A Quarter Century Caring for You
Thank you for choosing Texas Children’s Health Plan!
For more than 25 years, we have kept the children and women of Texas healthy. We were founded in 1996 by Texas Children’s Hospital as the nation’s first managed care organization (MCO) created just for children. Since then, we have grown to cover more than 600,000 pregnant women, teens, and adults with special health care needs in over 50 counties of East Texas.
As a member, you will receive quality care from a wide network of doctors, specialists, and hospitals. You will also enjoy exclusive benefits and services, such as reward cards for staying on top of your health, special events, a 24-hour nurse help line, and more. We are here for you and look forward to serving you!
Get to know your coverage in three easy steps!
1. Understand your Member ID card
You and each person in your family covered by Texas Children’s Health Plan will get your own Member ID card. Always carry this card with you. If you do not have your ID card, the doctor might refuse to see you, or you may have to pay for the services you get. Do not let other people use it.
When you get your Member ID check to make sure that everything is correct:
- Your name and date of birth
- Your primary care provider’s name and phone number
We can fix your ID card or get you a new one. Just call Member Services at:
- CHIP: 1-866-959-6555
- STAR: 1-866-959-2555
- STAR Kids: 1-800-659-5764
Your primary care provider is your main doctor. He or she will provide most of your health care, keep your medical records, know your medical history, and set up visits with specialists if you need them.
When you signed up for your benefits, you may have picked the doctor on your ID card. If you didn’t, we picked one for you. You can always change your doctor. We have more than 27,000 in our network, so you can have the choice you need. You can find a doctor that is near to where you live or work by using our online search tool.
2. Learn what’s covered under your plan
At Texas Children’s Health Plan, we go beyond our members’ medical needs, giving you all the benefits you and your family deserve. We offer extra benefits for you and your family to enjoy, in addition to rewarding you for keeping track of your health! We also provide additional help if you have conditions that are more serious like diabetes or asthma.
For a full list of benefits in your plan, please visit our Texas Children’s Health Plan website or check out:
Finding a primary care provider is important and we want to make sure you are connected to the right doctor.
If you can’t find a health provider or if you need help, call Member Services at 1-866-959-6555 (CHIP) or 1-866-959-2555 (STAR), or 1-800-659-5764 (STAR Kids).
- CHIP: 1-866-959-6555
- STAR: 1-866-959-2555
- STAR Kids: 1-800-659-5764
We offer extra support and education at no cost for special health needs such as asthma, autism, diabetes, mental health, weight management, and more. Our case managers will offer personal help, manage your treatment plan, and set goals for your health.
If your family needs extra support, please call a case manager at 832-828-1430 or
Our Healthy Rewards program offers benefits and rewards that can help keep your family healthy, such as:
- Reward cards for keeping up with medical visits
- Prenatal and baby care classes
- Portable cribs for newborns
- Special family events
- Transportation services
- 24-Hour nurse help line
- And so much more!
Check out our Healthy Rewards website to learn more.
The Center for Children and Women offers the health care you need when you need it.
The Center for Children and Women is a new kind of medical facility that puts everything in one place, from doctors and dentists to a pharmacy. It offers state-of-the-art health-care services 7 days a week. And it’s only for Texas Children's Health Plan members.
3. Set an appointment with your doctor!
The best way to get started with your plan is to visit your Primary Care Provider. When you signed up for your benefits, you may have picked a doctor. If you didn’t, we picked one for you. This doctor will give you all of the care you need and will make sure that you get any additional, special care necessary.
You can also switch your doctor. We have more than 27,000 in our network, so you can have the choice you need. Check out our Find a Doctor tool below, or if you have questions – or need a ride – give us a call.
- Have your Member ID card with you. The phone number of your primary care provider is listed on your Member ID card. If you need medical care the same day, call as early in the day as possible.
- Be ready to tell the doctor your health problem or the reason for your visit.
- Write down the day and time of your visit.
- If it is your first visit to this doctor, bring the name and address of your previous doctor.
- Your Member ID card.
- A list of the medicines you are taking.
- If you have a child, please bring their vaccination records.
- Take notes about the information you get from the doctor.
- Be on time for your doctor visits.
- We can help you get a ride at no cost to your doctor’s office. Call our transportation line at 346-232-4130, or toll-free at 888-401-0170 or visit our website.
- If you are late or if you can’t go to your visit, call your doctor’s office as soon as possible to cancel or change it. If you booked a ride to the visit, make sure to also cancel or change it.
Give your health the kick start it needs!
Our first goal for you as a member is your health. Click on the following links to create a full profile and start reaching your goals.