Insurance Program for Children Set to Re-Open

None by KCPW

(KCPW News) Utah's strong economy means lots of work and good pay for many, but state health officials say economic success is not translating into better health coverage for children:

"Eventhough the economy has been doing so well, the number of children we believe to be CHIP eligible that are not getting insurance has increased dramatically," says Nate Checketts, head of the state's health insurance program for children - or CHIP. "We're up to one in five children who are CHIP eligible are not currently insured right now."

CHIP is open to all children 18 and under who meet income guidelines and are not covered by other health insurance. Checketts says so few eligible children take advantage of the program partly because it has only been open for new enrollment sporadically. CHIP enrollment was open for a few months last summer, but closed in September due to lack of funding.

"One of the other issues we see is that families often don't think they will be eligible for these type of programs," says Checketts. "They're a working family, they consider themselves moderately well-off. But a family of four can make up to $41,000 in a year and still qualify for CHIP."

This year Utah lawmakers allocated four million new dollars for CHIP, which will allow enrollment to open on July 2nd. Checketts hopes it will be enough money to keep the program open for at least a year. Combined with federal matching funds, Checketts says the state should have enough money to provide health insurance for about 47-thousand of Utah's 89-thousand uninsured children.

Email to a friendPosted in KCPW Newsroom. Copyright 2008 KCPW