Are My Kids Eligible for CHIP in Williamson County, Texas?

How CHIP eligibility works

CHIP in Williamson County, like everywhere in Texas, covers children in households earning too much for Medicaid but too little for full-price coverage, typically for a modest monthly fee well under a comparable Marketplace premium. Because the income thresholds for CHIP are meaningfully higher than Texas's adult Medicaid limit, it's entirely normal for a family in Williamson County to have parents on a Marketplace plan while the kids are covered separately through CHIP.

Applying for CHIP. CHIP applications for Williamson County residents go through the Texas Health and Human Services Commission at YourTexasBenefits.com, separate from the federal HealthCare.gov Marketplace application used for adult coverage. A Marketplace application will often flag potential CHIP eligibility for children in the household and route the family accordingly, so it's worth starting there even if you're unsure which program applies.

Why this matters for your overall plan. Understanding that your children may be on a different coverage track than you are in Williamson County changes how you should shop — rather than looking for one family plan that covers everyone, you may be comparing an adult Marketplace plan against a CHIP enrollment for the kids. See our CHIP vs. Marketplace guide for the full breakdown.

Income thresholds in context

CHIP income limits in Texas are set meaningfully higher than the state's very restrictive adult Medicaid limit, which is exactly why a family in Williamson County can have parents earning too much for Medicaid while their children still qualify for CHIP. The exact threshold depends on household size, so checking your specific numbers matters more than a general rule of thumb.

What CHIP actually costs. CHIP coverage for Williamson County families typically comes with a modest quarterly enrollment fee and small copays, well below what a comparable Marketplace plan would cost for the same child. It covers routine checkups, dental, vision, and hospital care similar to Medicaid's scope.

Renewal requirements. CHIP coverage for Williamson County families requires annual renewal with updated income and household information — missing a renewal deadline is one of the more common reasons children temporarily lose coverage, so calendar reminders are worth setting.

What CHIP covers

CHIP coverage for children in Williamson County generally mirrors Medicaid's scope — routine checkups, immunizations, dental, vision, prescriptions, and hospital care — making it a genuinely solid option rather than a bare-bones fallback, despite the low cost.

If you're on the edge of eligibility. Households in Williamson County close to the CHIP income cutoff should still apply rather than assume ineligibility — eligibility is based on your specific household size and income, and the thresholds are higher than many people expect.

Applying alongside a Marketplace application. When you apply for Marketplace coverage as a Williamson County household, the system automatically screens for CHIP and Medicaid eligibility for any children listed, so there's no need to submit a completely separate application from scratch in most cases.

One more thing to keep in mind

Even families in Williamson County who assume they earn too much for CHIP should still check — the thresholds are often higher than expected.

Related reading. See our full CHIP vs. Marketplace guide for how split-eligibility households in Williamson County typically navigate both programs together.

A final practical note. A quick call to a licensed agent can confirm CHIP eligibility for your specific Williamson County household in minutes.

Local context for Williamson County

Williamson County's economy is anchored by technology and advanced manufacturing, with major employers including Dell Technologies headquartered in Round Rock, alongside a fast-growing small-business sector riding the same growth wave as neighboring Travis County.

St. David's Round Rock Medical Center and Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Round Rock, both recently expanded, are the county's two principal hospitals. As a fast-growing suburb of Austin, Williamson County tends to see more plan and network turnover year to year than smaller counties, making it worth re-checking network coverage each enrollment period. Pediatric and family care in Williamson County is frequently anchored at St. David's Round Rock Medical Center, worth keeping in mind when comparing plan networks for CHIP-eligible children.

How Williamson County fits Texas's wider market. For 2026, individual Marketplace premiums in Texas rose by an average of 34.7% on approved rates. Around 92% of the state's Marketplace enrollees qualify for a premium tax credit, averaging roughly $650 a month, that offsets much of the increase, though the 400% federal poverty level cliff is back for 2026, so households above that line get no premium tax credit rather than a gradually shrinking one.

Where Texas's rules diverge from most states. Texas's decision not to expand Medicaid means childless, non-disabled adults in Williamson County are shut out of Medicaid no matter their income level. An estimated 570,000 to 617,000 Texans statewide are thought to sit in this gap. CHIP remains available for their kids, applied for (like Medicaid) through Your Texas Benefits at yourtexasbenefits.com rather than the federal HealthCare.gov site.

What to have ready before requesting a quote. Don't mistake a county average for a personal prediction. In Williamson County, your actual premium depends on your precise ZIP code, the ages of everyone you're covering, this year's household income, and the doctors, hospitals, and prescriptions you need in-network. Having those four details on hand makes for a fast quote conversation with a licensed Texas agent, who costs you nothing since carriers pay the commission.