HARRISBURG, PA — Pennsylvania is widening the safety net for its youngest residents as a new insurer joins the state’s Children’s Health Insurance Program, giving families more choices for affordable coverage at a time when many still struggle to insure their kids.
The Department of Human Services announced that WellKids by PA Health & Wellness has been added to the network of managed care organizations offering CHIP coverage across the Commonwealth. The move follows the state’s first CHIP re-procurement since 2013 and expands the number of plans available to families seeking health care for children and teens.
“Pennsylvania’s kids deserve the best start in life we can give them, and that begins with making sure they can get health care when they need it,” DHS Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh said. “CHIP provides a vital lifeline so that kids can get insured and have access to the medical care that will help them grow up healthy.”
CHIP serves children and teenagers up to age 19 who are not eligible for Medicaid, offering free or low-cost coverage based on family income. No family earns too much to qualify, and parents can choose the plan that best fits their needs. The program covers everything from routine checkups and immunizations to emergency care, mental health services, and dental, vision, and hearing care.
WellKids by PA Health & Wellness is operated by PA Health & Wellness, a subsidiary of Centene Corporation, and brings with it experience from running Medicaid plans, including Pennsylvania’s Community HealthChoices program. The new CHIP plan will serve families in all 67 counties and offer preventive, routine, urgent, and emergency medical and behavioral health services, along with dental, vision, and pharmacy coverage.
State officials say the company’s National Committee for Quality Assurance accreditation, including its Health Equity designation, was a key factor in its selection, signaling a commitment to quality and fair access to care.
Beginning in January 2026, CHIP will be delivered through a network of nine managed care organizations: Aetna, Capital Blue Cross, Geisinger Health Plan, Health Partners Plan, Highmark, Keystone First, UnitedHealthcare, UPMC, and PA Health & Wellness.
For families, the expansion means more competition among insurers and more flexibility in finding a plan that matches their doctors, pharmacies, and children’s needs.
More information about WellKids by PA Health & Wellness is available by calling 1-855-445-1920 or visiting https://www.pahealthwellness.com/.
With thousands of Pennsylvania children relying on CHIP for doctor visits, prescriptions, and preventive care, state leaders say the new addition strengthens a program that remains a cornerstone of child health across the Commonwealth.
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