The Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) is one of the most vital programs in America for ensuring a healthy future for our children. CHIP provides health insurance to uninsured children whose low-income, often working, families do not qualify for Medicaid. Below are some important facts about the program, brought to you by the Modern Medicaid Alliance (MMA). Click here for a downloadable version of the Fast Facts.
- Nearly 9 million children in the United States are covered by CHIP and more than 37 million children receive health coverage through Medicaid. Together, the programs cover one out of three children nationwide.[i]
- In some states, CHIP provides coverage to pregnant women to ensure they receive the care they need for healthy children.[ii]
- Each state designs their own CHIP program, within federal guidelines, to meet the needs of their residents, ensuring that children have access to appropriate pediatric benefits and provider networks.[iii]
- While programs vary by state, CHIP generally requires modest cost sharing and premium contributions from the families who receive it.[iv]
- CHIP relies on about 70% federal funding and 30% state funding, making the partnership between the federal government and states essential to the program.[v]
- CHIP provides much-needed services to many children in America with chronic conditions. Nearly one-quarter of children enrolled in CHIP have such conditions; 11.4% of children under 17 have asthma and almost one in ten have a learning disability.
- Children enrolled in CHIP can receive the medical care they need, with 90% having a medical visit in the past year and 87 percent having a preventive care visit during the same time frame.[vi]
- Funding for CHIP expired on September 30, 2017 and requires congressional reauthorization for the program to continue providing services to the families it currently covers.[vii] Several bills are under consideration by Congress with action expected before the end of the year.
Full Sources
[i] https://www.medicaid.gov/chip/downloads/fy-2016-childrens-enrollment-report.pdf
[ii] https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/outreach-and-enrollment/lawfully-residing/index.html
[iii] https://www.aap.org/en-us/Documents/ccs_factsheet_unitedstates.pdf
[iv] http://www.kff.org/report-section/medicaid-and-chip-eligibility-enrollment-renewal-and-cost-sharing-policies-as-of-january-2017-premiums-and-cost-sharing/
[v] https://www.macpac.gov/publication/state-childrens-health-insurance-program-chip-fact-sheet/
[vi] https://www.macpac.gov/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/State-Children%E2%80%99s-Health-Insurance-Program_CHIP-Fact-Sheet.pdf
[vii] http://www.kff.org/medicaid/fact-sheet/current-status-of-state-planning-for-the-future-of-chip/