The Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
On February 4, 2009, President Obama signed the Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act (CHIPRA), which renews and expands coverage of the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) from 7 million children to 11 million children. CHIP was previously known as the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). If you have uninsured children or are even paying more than $100 dollar for their health insurance coverage and meet the financial criteria you will want to look into this program.
For more information on the CHIP program in your state please visit the state menu bar to the right and click on your state’s health insurance page.
What is CHIP?
Originally created in 1997, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) is a state and federal partnership that provides low-cost health insurance coverage for children in families who earn too much income to qualify for Medicaid but cannot afford to purchase private health insurance coverage. States have considerable flexibility to establish income eligibility rules for CHIP, but children enrolling in the program must be otherwise uninsured.
Within federal guidelines, each state determines the design of its individual CHIP program, including eligibility parameters, benefit packages, payment levels for coverage, and administrative procedures. States have flexibility in designing the benefit package for CHIP, but states are required to cover routine check-ups, immunizations, dental, inpatient and outpatient hospital care, and laboratory and x-ray services. Preventive care must be provided at no cost to the family; but premiums and other cost-sharing may be required for other services, within certain limits.
On February 4, 2009, President Obama signed the Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act (CHIPRA), which provided funding to renew and expand CHIP coverage. This new legislation preserves health coverage for millions of children who already rely on CHIP, and provides resources for states to offer CHIP coverage to millions more uninsured kids.
CHIP served more than 7.3 million children in fiscal year 2008. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that, by 2013, states will be able to provide coverage to an additional 4 million children who would otherwise be uninsured.
CHIP in 50 States
Every state and U.S. Territory operates a CHIP program, although most states have unique names for their programs. Click on the InsureKidsNow.gov map to learn more about your state’s programs.
Applying for CHIP Is Easy, Free and Confidential
To get started, make a free call to 1-877 KIDS NOW (1-877-543-7669) or click on the InsureKidsNow.gov map for a link to your state’s CHIP web page. When you call our free and confidential hotline, you’ll be connected directly to someone from your state. The CHIP or Medicaid staff will help you decide whether your child might be eligible and help you complete the application. In some cases, they will walk you through the on line application or offer to send you an application in the mail. In most states, you can complete the application through the mail or over the phone.
In addition to renewing the CHIP program, the new legislation makes it easier for certain groups to access CHIP health care, including uninsured children from families with higher incomes and uninsured low-income pregnant women.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) enrollment data based on state reports show that 7.4 million children were enrolled in CHIP at some point during Federal fiscal year (FFY) 2008, compared to 7.1 million for fiscal 2007. During FFY 2008, there were 334,616 adults covered with CHIP funds.
Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Directors. Each State, Territory, and the District of Columbia has a coordinator for the SCHIP program who is responsible for the administration of the approved SCHIP state plan. Below is a download of an Adobe Acrobat (PDF) formatted document (“CHIP State Directors”) which lists all current CHIP coordinators.
Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Waivers and Demonstrations. The Social Security Act authorizes multiple waiver and demonstration authorities to allow states flexibility in operating Medicaid programs and CHIP programs. Each authority has a distinct purpose, and distinct requirements. For additional information, click on the Medicaid and CHIP Quality Practices link below.
CHILDREN’S HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM REAUTHORIZATION ACT (CHIPRA) OUTREACH AND ENROLLMENT GRANTS – CYCLE I – On July 6, 2009 HHS Secretary Sebelius announced the availability new resources for organizations that work to ensure children have the health insurance coverage they need. The full grant announcement can be found in the Downloads section below. Question and Answer documents that respond to questions submitted to CMS that have been raised about the solicitation for the CHIPRA Outreach Grants can be found at the Related Link Inside CMS below.
Insure Kids Now!
Families who earn too much to qualify for Medicaid may be able to qualify for CHIP.
Families that do not currently have health insurance are likely to be eligible, even if you are working. The states have different eligibility rules, but in most states, uninsured children under the age of 19, whose families earn up to $44,100 a year (for a family of four) are eligible. For little or no cost, this insurance pays for:
- doctor visits
- immunizations
- hospitalizations
- emergency room visits
For contact information for your state or to read specific information regarding eligibility in your state please access the Insure Kids Now (see Related Links Outside CMS)
Facts and Figures
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Facts and Figures
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- Although the uninsured rate for children in poverty decreased to 15.7 percent in 2008, from 17.6 percent in 2007, children in poverty were more likely to be uninsured than all children.
- Among uninsured children living with a parent, nearly 60% live in two-parent households
- The vast majority of uninsured children (88.2 %) come from families where at least one parent is working.
- 71 percent of uninsured children in the U.S. have family incomes below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level ($36,620 for a family of three in 2009).
- 88 percent of all low-income uninsured children are eligible for Medicaid or CHIP.
