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Child
Health Insurance Program – Resources for Families
On August 5,
1997, President Clinton signed into law the State Children’s Health
Insurance Program, expanding health coverage for millions of uninsured
children in the United States. Beginning on October 1, 1997, the
new child health program provides $48 billion over 10 years, including
targeted Medicaid expansions and $4 billion in annual grants to
states to cover uninsured children, either through Medicaid or a
separate state program. The grants cover uninsured children with
family incomes too high for Medicaid today but too low to afford
private family coverage. The new law contains minimum safeguards
to ensure that these federal grants achieve their purpose – providing
uninsured children with the health coverage they need to grow up
healthy and strong. However, each state has enormous flexibility
to set eligibility rules, define covered benefits, determine subsidy
levels, set payment rates, select health plans, and use managed
care.
If you think
your children are eligible…
If you think
your children may be eligible for free or low-cost health insurance
through this new program, or if you know other children that might
be eligible, there are a number of resources available to you. Each
state is different so interested persons should contact their state’s
CHIP administrator directly for information. The links below provide
application and eligibility information for state programs.
Remember these
important points about the following resources:
- While these
resources are trying their best to provide up to date information
on CHIP, it is up to you to speak to your state’s CHIP to confirm
income eligibility and application information.
- If you have
any doubt that your children are eligible based on these resources,
speak with your state’s CHIP contact to confirm eligibility information.
If your child is not eligible for this new program, they may qualify
for other state programs.
- Some states
allow mail-in applications, and some require applications to be
submitted in person. Even if your state’s CHIP application is
available for download on the internet, make sure to read and
follow application instructions carefully so your application
can be processed as quickly as possible.
Links to
State Application & Eligibility Information
- The
Children’s Defense Fund provides state-by-state progress reports,
Internet resources, and toll free telephone numbers for each state.
This site also includes customized flyers for each state you can
print and share with others (in English and Spanish).
- Insure
Kids Now, sponsored by the White House, the National Governors’
Association, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,
offers information on what the new child health insurance pays
for, who is eligible, and contacts for each state. Insure Kids
Now also offers a toll free number for CHIP information: 1·877·543·7669.
CHIP Outreach
Resources for Schools
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NEA Health Information Network