In an effort to determine how children may fare in Congressional health reform proposals that eliminate the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and move kids into exchange plans, First Focus commissioned a study by Watson Wyatt Worldwide to compare the actuarial value of CHIP to exchange plans.
The study finds that depending on family income, children enrolled in CHIP are only exposed to 0-2% of medical expenses. Comparable exchange plans in the House and Senate bills would expose children to anywhere from 5 – 35% of costs, greatly increasing their financial burden and leaving low-income children worse off as a result of health reform.