Women and Children

HHSC provides services to Texas women such as aiding in preventing unintended pregnancies, nurturing healthier pregnancies, addressing domestic violence and taking care of children. Texans also can apply for insurance for their children through Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and Medicaid.

• Medicaid and CHIP help cover medical expenses for children and people with disabilities who meet income requirements.
• Medicaid for Pregnant Women and CHIP Perinatal provides eligible pregnant women free health coverage during their pregnancy and, in Medicaid for Pregnant Women, coverage for 12 months postpartum.
• Healthy Texas Women offers women's health and family planning services at no cost to eligible, low-income women including women's health exams, health screenings and birth control.
• The Family Planning Program provides high-quality, comprehensive, low-cost and accessible family planning and reproductive health care services to eligible Texans.
• The Family Support Services program promotes healthy families and communities by providing supports through community-based programs.
• The Breast and Cervical Cancer Services Program provides high-quality and accessible breast and cervical cancer screening and diagnostic services to women. Eligible clients receive these services free of charge.
• The Women, Infants and Children program (WIC) is a health and nutrition program that helps improve the diets of infants and children as well as pregnant, postpartum and breastfeeding women.
• Family Violence Program promotes the self-sufficiency, safety, and long-term independence of adult and child victims of family violence and victims of teen dating violence.
• Texas Nurse-Family Partnership pairs registered nurses with low-income, first-time mothers to improve prenatal care and provide one-on-one education and counseling focusing on child development.
• Adoption Services provides information about the adoption process in Texas.
• Title V Maternal and Child Health helps low-income women, children and adolescents who are not eligible for Medicaid, CHIP or CHIP Perinatal.
• Thriving Texas Families program provides pregnant women with pregnancy and parenting information and supports.
• A Woman's Right to Know provides important information about a baby’s growth during pregnancy and the resources available to pregnant women during and after pregnancy.

Extended Postpartum Coverage

HHSC extended its postpartum Medicaid coverage to 12 months for eligible women, effective March 1, 2024. HHSC is also providing 12 months of postpartum CHIP coverage. The 12 months of postpartum coverage begins the month after a pregnancy has ended.