Jefferson Public Radio

By Sammy Caiola

Mayra Alvarez of The Children’s Partnership, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit, says the last time there was a CHIP funding delay was in 2009. “Previously when federal CHIP dollars were delayed, California was forced to impose freezes on enrollment. We hope it doesn’t get to that point.”

Alvarez urges the federal government to authorize CHIP for a full five years, instead of for just two years as they did in 2015. She says the uncertainty around CHIP could lead families to distrust the program going forward.

“All year they’re been hearing that Congress is going to take away coverage, that their Medicaid won’t be there, that their CHIP program won’t be there,” she says. “Those rumors, those assumptions that they’re making, it has real consequences, and it will impact a family’s decision to enroll in coverage. We’re fearful that they’ll think the worst and they won’t sign their kids up for coverage.”

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