Jane Dotson
The Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) is a federal-state partnership that provides health insurance to children from families with modest incomes that are too high to qualify for Medicaid but too low to afford private coverage. CHIP was passed into law as part of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 and was the largest expansion of taxpayer-funded health insurance coverage for children in the US since the establishment of Medicaid in 1965. While CHIP has been critical in reducing the number of uninsured children, it has not been made permanent and requires periodic reauthorization. The program expired on September 30, 2017, but was reauthorized by President Trump in 2018 for six years. More recently, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 extended CHIP until 2029.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) |
| Formerly Known As | State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) |
| Administered By | United States Department of Health and Human Services |
| Coverage | Health insurance for families with children |
| Eligibility | Children in families with incomes too high to qualify for Medicaid but too low to afford private coverage |
| Statutory Authority | Title XXI of the Social Security Act |
| Year Passed | 1997 |
| Year CHIP Expired | 2017 |
| Year Reauthorized | 2018 |
| Extension Period | Six years |
| Current Expiry | 2027 |
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What You'll Learn
CHIP coverage expired in 2017 but was reauthorised in 2018
The Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) is a program administered by the United States Department of Health and Human Services that provides matching funds to states for health insurance for families with children. The program was designed to cover uninsured children in families with incomes too high to qualify for Medicaid but too low to afford private coverage.
CHIP was passed into law as part of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, and the statutory authority for CHIP is under Title XXI of the Social Security Act. CHIP was formulated after President Bill Clinton's comprehensive health care reform proposal did not pass. The legislation to create CHIP was co-sponsored by Democratic Senator Ted Kennedy and Republican Senator Orrin Hatch.
CHIP expired on September 30, 2017. At the time, most states had sufficient funds to keep the program running for a few months. On September 18, 2017, Senators Orrin Hatch and Ron Wyden introduced the Keeping Kids' Insurance Dependable and Secure (KIDS) Act (Bill S.1827), which would fund CHIP until 2022. On November 3, 2017, the House of Representatives passed the CHAMPION Act, which also would have funded CHIP until 2022.
On January 22, 2018, President Trump signed legislation that reauthorized CHIP for six years. Bill H.195 (known as the Federal Register Printing Savings Act of 2017, including Extension of Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018) passed the House by a vote of 266-150 and passed the Senate by a vote of 81–18. The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 further extended CHIP's authorization through 2027.
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CHIP provides health insurance for children in families with modest incomes
The Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) is a federal-state partnership that provides health insurance to families with children. CHIP was formulated after President Bill Clinton's comprehensive health care reform proposal failed. CHIP was passed into law as part of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, and the program was co-sponsored by Democratic Senator Ted Kennedy and Republican Senator Orrin Hatch. The program is administered by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, which provides matching funds to states for health insurance coverage for children in families with modest incomes.
CHIP is designed to cover uninsured children in families with incomes that are too high to qualify for Medicaid but too low to afford private coverage. Each state has its own rules about who qualifies for CHIP, and the benefits offered can vary across different states. However, all states provide comprehensive coverage, including doctor visits, immunizations, hospital care, dental care, and vision care.
Families can apply for CHIP coverage at any time of the year by submitting an application to their state agency. If a family applies for Medicaid coverage, they will also find out if their children qualify for CHIP. If eligible, the family will not need to purchase a separate insurance plan to cover their children. CHIP coverage can start immediately upon qualification.
CHIP has been extended multiple times since its inception, most recently through the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018, which authorized the program through 2027. The program has faced opposition from some conservatives, but it has also received support from various organizations and individuals, including Hillary Clinton, who advocated for its inclusion in subsequent legislation. Despite the opposition, CHIP has expanded health insurance coverage for children in the United States, and research has shown that it has improved access to healthcare and health outcomes for children.
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Eligibility depends on income and state-specific requirements
Eligibility for the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) depends on income and state-specific requirements. CHIP provides low-cost health coverage to children and pregnant women in families that earn too much money to qualify for Medicaid but too little to afford private insurance. Each state has its own rules about who qualifies for CHIP, and eligibility is based on income, household size, family status, disability, age, and other factors. For example, in certain states, CHIP may only be available to children in families with incomes that are modest but too high to qualify for Medicaid.
The income threshold for CHIP eligibility varies by state. In some states, CHIP is available to children in families with incomes up to 200% of the federal poverty level, while in other states, the income threshold may be lower or higher. Additionally, some states have expanded their Medicaid programs to cover all people with household incomes below a certain level, which may impact CHIP eligibility.
It's important to note that even if someone doesn't qualify for Medicaid based on income, they may still be eligible for CHIP. Each state has coverage options that consider various factors beyond income. Therefore, it is recommended to apply for Medicaid and CHIP to determine eligibility. The application can be submitted at any time during the year, and if approved, the coverage can start immediately.
While CHIP is a federal-state partnership, the individual states have flexibility in designing their CHIP policies within broad federal guidelines. This results in variations in eligibility requirements, benefits, and administration across different states. Therefore, it is essential to check the specific requirements and guidelines of the state in which one resides to understand the eligibility criteria for CHIP.
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CHIP is administered by the US Department of Health and Human Services
The Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) is a program administered by the United States Department of Health and Human Services. CHIP provides matching funds to states for health insurance for families with children. The program was designed to cover uninsured children in families with modest incomes that are too high to qualify for Medicaid.
CHIP was formulated in the aftermath of the failure of President Bill Clinton's comprehensive health care reform proposal. First Lady Hillary Clinton's brainchild in the aftermath of the failure of her healthcare reform work, this legislation to create CHIP was co-sponsored by Democratic Senator Ted Kennedy and Republican Senator Orrin Hatch. The bill was passed and signed into law by President Clinton on August 5, 1997, as part of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, to take effect the following month.
CHIP is a federal-state partnership similar to Medicaid, with programs run by individual states according to requirements set by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. States have flexibility in designing their CHIP policies within broad federal guidelines, resulting in variations in eligibility, benefits, and administration across different states. Many states contract with private companies to administer portions of their CHIP benefits.
CHIP covered 7.6 million children during the federal fiscal year 2010, and every state has an approved plan. However, the number of uninsured children continued to rise after 1997, particularly among families that did not qualify for CHIP. An October 2007 study by the Vimo Research Group found that 68.7% of newly uninsured children were in families whose incomes were 200% or higher of the federal poverty level. A 2018 survey of existing research noted that the availability of "CHIP coverage for children has led to improvements in access to health care and to improvements in health over both the short and long run."
CHIP funding is not permanently authorized and must be periodically addressed. The program was reauthorized for six years in 2018, and the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 extended federal CHIP funding through the fiscal year 2029.
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CHIP was passed into law in 1997
The Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) was passed into law as part of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997. It was formerly known as the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). CHIP was designed to cover uninsured children in families with modest incomes that were too high to qualify for Medicaid.
CHIP was formulated after President Bill Clinton's comprehensive health care reform proposal failed. It was the brainchild of First Lady Hillary Clinton. The legislation to create CHIP was co-sponsored by Democratic Senator Ted Kennedy and Republican Senator Orrin Hatch. Kennedy and Hatch revived the bill a month after its initial defeat. It was passed and signed into law by President Clinton on August 5, 1997, to take effect the following month.
CHIP was created to encourage states to participate by providing enhanced federal financing and greater flexibility in program design compared to Medicaid. By the fiscal year 2000, every state, territory, and the District of Columbia had enrolled children in CHIP-financed coverage. CHIP has been successful in reducing the number of uninsured children and improving access to healthcare.
CHIP has undergone several reauthorizations and expansions since its creation. The Children's Health Insurance Reauthorization Act of 2009 extended CHIP and expanded the program to cover an additional 4 million children and pregnant women. The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 further extended CHIP's authorization through 2027.
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Frequently asked questions
CHIP stands for the Children's Health Insurance Program. It provides matching funds to states for health insurance for families with children.
Yes, CHIP insurance expired on September 30, 2017. However, on January 22, 2018, President Trump signed legislation that reauthorized CHIP for six years.
CHIP insurance covers children in families with incomes that are too high to qualify for Medicaid but too low to afford private coverage.
