Washington kids win Children's Health Insurance Program

President Obama has signed an extension of the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which includes a “fair share fix” secured by Senator Maria Cantwell to get more Washington state children access to quality affordable health care. Under Cantwell’s fix, Washington state will receive and be able to use more federal money to provide health care for vulnerable low-income children. 

SEIU Healthcare 1199NW nurse Sally O'Neill from Swedish Medical Center spoke at the CHIP press conference in Seattle.

"This program is a lifeline to families struggling to survive during these tough times, and it ensures that children will get the healthcare that they need.  Children need access to immunizations, regular doctor visits, and preventive medicine. We know that when they have access to affordable healthcare, their health outcomes are consistently better. No one should have to choose between health care for their kids and making a mortgage or rent payment."

CHIP provides health insurance to children living in families not poor enough to qualify for Medicaid, but still unable to afford private health insurance. Under current law, Washington state receives $79.9 million in CHIP funding; under the fix that Cantwell secured, the state will receive a projected $94 million.  For the first time since CHIP was created, Washington will have full access to its fair share of the program’s funding.  CHIP rules have previously prevented Washington from using its allocation to cover the thousands of remaining uninsured low-income children who would have otherwise been eligible and so Washington has been forced to hand back almost $200 million since the program’s creation in 1997—all of it money the state could have used to cover uninsured children.  For the first time since CHIP was created, Washington will have full access to its fair share of the program's funding and be able to help more Washington children.

 “Today, more people have lost their jobs than at any other time since World War II," Senator Cantwell said. "As parents lose their jobs, unfortunately more children become eligible for CHIP, which makes getting Washington state its ‘fair share’ more important than ever.  It’s a real solution for Washington families in Seattle and Spokane; Yakima and Mount Vernon; families who simply don’t have the $11,500 it now costs to insure a family in America.  We need to do better for our kids and for the health care system by getting more kids access to quality health care.”

In 2007, Cantwell worked to extend this program, despite President Bush’s two vetoes of the CHIP bills.  The updated bill is nearly identical to the 2007 bills (HR 976 and HR 3963) with modifications made to address new cost projections and budgetary issues. The $31.5 billion legislation will preserve coverage for as many as 6.7 million children enrolled in the program, and will provide coverage to 3.9 million additional uninsured, low-income children in the U.S.  Current authorization for CHIP expires on March 31, 2009.