Federal funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) is set to expire in September 2015 without Congressional action. At a time when we have made health care coverage a possibility for all Americans, we must ensure that children don’t get left behind.
Say Ahhh! readers know that CHIP covers millions of children that could wind up going without affordable health coverage or paying more for less comprehensive coverage if funding is not renewed. While the role of CHIP in the long-term will evolve as the ACA marketplaces and other coverage sources mature, our analyses suggest that the program must remain intact for the foreseeable future to ensure we don’t lose ground on the our country’s unprecedented success in covering children.
Recognizing the critical role CHIP continues to play in the children’s coverage landscape, Senator Rockefeller, a long-time champion for children’s health, introduced a bill today that would extend funding for CHIP for four years, ensuring that children’s coverage remains strong as ACA is implemented and refined. Among other improvements, the bill would:
- Extend CHIP funding through 2019, lining up with ACA’s stability protections, or maintenance-of-effort (MOE) requirement for children;
- Make Express Lane Eligibility (ELE) a permanent option for states to remove red tape and streamline enrollment (currently the option will expire September 2015);
- Revise and continue the innovative performance incentives for states that successfully reach Medicaid-eligible children; and
- Ensure ACA Medicaid coverage for former foster kids up to age 26, even if they change their state of residence; and
- Extend and enhance CHIPRA’s quality provisions.
CHIP works hand-in-hand with Medicaid to provide child-specific health care benefits crucial to the health and well being of America’s children. In fact, the Affordable Care Act recognized the success of CHIP and Medicaid for children and enhanced them.
No child should have to forego necessary medical treatment because his plan doesn’t cover it or his family can’t afford it. With Senator Rockefeller retiring next year, we will lose a major champion for children’s health; ensuring children’s coverage remains strong is an important final chapter in his legacy. We will keep Say Ahhh! readers posted as legislative efforts unfold.
For more information:
- Bill summary
- Bill text
