Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)

The Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) is a federally funded programadministered by the states that provides health coverage for American childrenin working families. Thanks to Congressand President Obama, the program has been expanded and extended to anadditional 4 million previously uninsured children.

With our economy in crisis, the Children's Health Insurance Program is moreimportant than ever. Millions of working Americans either aren't offered healthcoverage at their jobs, or they can't afford to buy the coverage that theiremployers offer. In 1997, Congress enacted the State Children's HealthInsurance Program to help working families get health coverage for theirchildren. The Children's Health Insurance Program provides children with accessto comprehensive health coverage that helps them get a healthy start in life.

Fast facts about children's health

Key Provisions of theChildren's Health Insurance Program.

• Covers approximately 4 million additional uninsured children.
• Is fully paid for, primarily with a 62-cent increase in the federal tobacco tax.
• Will extend federal support for the Children's Health Insurance Program through 2013.
• Encourages states to enroll children who are already eligible but not yet covered, and gives states new tools to reach uninsured children.
• Removes the five-year waiting period for legal immigrant children and pregnant women who enroll in Medicaid or CHIP.
• Improves the benefit package so that children who need dental care or mental health care can get those services.

Health insurance matters for children.

• Children with health insurance are more likely to have a usual source of health care, to have seen a doctor in the previous year, and to have their health care needs met than their uninsured counterparts.
• When children get the health care they need, they are better equipped to do well and school because they can do things like attend school regularly, see the chalkboard, hear the teacher, and participate in classroom and recess activities-all essential parts of succeeding in school.

 8.6 million children are uninsured, and the number is growing.

• The most recent data from the Census Bureau found that 8.6 million children are uninsured, and these data were collected before the economic downturn took hold in 2008.
• As unemployment continues to rise and fewer families can afford health coverage, more children are likely to need coverage. For every one percent increase in the unemployment rate, an additional 600,000 children become eligible for Medicaid and CHIP.