Key Takeaways
CHIP provides coverage for eight million low income children in all 50 states, Washington DC, and U.S. territories.
CHIP coverage helps low-income working families afford health care for their children.
We urge Congress to extend CHIP funding for five years, consistent with the recommendations of the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC).
Background
The Children鈥檚 Health Insurance Program (CHIP) is a state-federal program authorized by Congress in 1997. CHIP was designed to provide health insurance coverage for children in families that have too much income to qualify for Medicaid but do not have access to affordable health insurance coverage. The program has helped reduce the rate of uninsured children from 13.9 percent in 1997 to 4.5 percent in 2015. Most recent data shows that over 8.4 million children were enrolled in CHIP sometime in 2015.