Washington D.C. – Today, health care advocates celebrate a major milestone in children’s coverage, marking 13 years of success in providing low-income children access to high quality, affordable health care. On August 5, 1997, President Bill Clinton signed into law the Balanced Budget Act, which included the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Operated by the states, CHIP is a federal partnership with the states, offering matching funds for states to ensure health coverage for children in families whose income are too high to qualify for Medicaid, but who don’t earn enough to purchase private health insurance on their own.
Since its inception in 1997, CHIP has shown remarkable results, reducing the number of uninsured children by almost a third – even as uninsured rates for adults increased steadily. Today the program provides coverage to more than seven million low-income children. It is estimated that another 6 million children qualify for coverage under CHIP or Medicaid but are not yet enrolled.
In marking the occasion of CHIP’s coming of age, Bruce Lesley, president of the bipartisan child advocacy organization First Focus, issued the following statement:
“Over the last decade, our nation has made huge gains for children because of the success of the Children’s Health Insurance Program. Together with Medicaid, CHIP serves as a cornerstone of coverage for one-third of our nation’s children. Because of CHIP, millions of children in working families are able to get the health care services they require. Indeed, no government program, since the enactment of Medicaid 45 years ago, has been more successful in expanding coverage for children.
“By incorporating CHIP into the newly-enacted health reform legislation, our nation’s low-income families will continue to be able to get their children the high-quality and affordable health care services they need to grow up to be healthy, strong, and productive adults. From vaccinations and eye exams, to oral health and asthma care, CHIP ensures that kids get the cost-effective and comprehensive care that they need and deserve. And, because CHIP is already in place, eligible families can enroll their children in coverage immediately.
“Support for children’s health coverage among the public is overwhelming. A recent public opinion survey commissioned by First Focus found that providing health coverage for all children is at the top of the public’s priorities. In addition, recent data analysis by Watson Wyatt Worldwide confirms that children currently enrolled in CHIP have the best, most affordable care that is available. It provides comprehensive benefits to children that specifically address their unique health care needs while limiting families’ out-of-pocket costs. The evidence is clear that CHIP works for kids.”