While all 50 states and the District of Columbia (D.C.) have a state health insurance program, the design, administration, and implementation of Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) are also unique to each state; this includes their names. For example, Florida has four unique and distinctly named coverage programs under CHIP, and Washington state currently has nine different public health insurance options (followed closely by Louisiana with eight).
Resource: State Health Insurance Program Names 2026
The purpose of this resource is to help policymakers, researchers, and consumers interested in understanding the variety found amongst state health insurance programs.
On an annual basis, SHADAC contacts state Medicaid staff to verify the state-specific names of public health insurance programs within each state. For example, California refers to its Medicaid program as "Medi-Cal" whereas North Dakota refers to its program simply as "North Dakota Medicaid."
Compiled by researchers at SHADAC, this resource documents state-specific names for public health insurance programs (i.e., Medicaid and CHIP) as well as the names of state-based Marketplaces (i.e., SBMs) for private health insurance coverage purchase for all 50 states and the District of Columbia (D.C.) in an easy-to-use Excel file.
Part of the goal of this resource is to collect program names that are familiar to enrollees; therefore, we also document colloquial references as well as official names of these programs. This resource provides clear information for consumers, helping them to understand the coverage they do (or do not) have. A better understanding of coverage could, in turn, reduce differences between self-reported Medicaid participation and administrative data records (i.e., the Medicaid undercount).
Download the resource by clicking on the image of the spreadsheet, or at this link: State Health Insurance Program Names 2026
Methods
Each year, SHADAC contacts state Medicaid staff to verify the names of public health insurance programs within each state. SHADAC compiles and delivers these program names to the U.S. Census Bureau for use in federal surveys that measure health insurance coverage, such as the Current Population Survey (CPS). For any states we are unable to reach via email, we also conduct a search of state government and Department of Health (or Department of Health & Human Services) websites for any additional information.
Information on program names was collected in August and September 2026 and includes all comprehensive state-administered health insurance programs that were in operation during the past year.* Information on marketplace type was confirmed using HealthCare.gov and the KFF's 2026 table.
We welcome any suggestions for modifications or corrections. Please share them through our “Contact Us” page, or email us at [email protected].
Past State Health Insurance Program Names Resources
Below you can find links to this resource from past years’ updates.
State Insurance Program Names 2025
State Insurance Program Names 2024
State Insurance Program Names 2023
State Insurance Program Names 2021
*SHADAC also maintains a list of noncomprehensive and defunct programs and their names for verification purposes. If you would like information on any of these programs or to learn if a program is part of this list, please feel free to email us at the above listed address.