CHIP funding will run out here in January 2018; notices will go out by Dec. 1 to families who will lose coverage
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In Washington state, these funds will run out in January
2018. The state is preparing to notify families of about 16,000 children that
they will lose coverage.
According to the governor’s office, CHIP provides access to
essential health care services to about 60,000 Washington children each year.
Congress has known for two years that funding was set to
expire this fall, but failed to act.
On Wednesday, committees in both the Senate and the House passed
bills to restore funding, but the House version hit considerable resistance
from committee members who opposed paying for the program, in part, by making
cuts to Medicare and the Affordable Care Act.
Gov. Inslee’s letter to Congress
WHAT IS CHIP?
The Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) covers
pregnant women and children. Like Medicaid, CHIP is administered by states
according to federal requirements. Federal dollars pay for 88 percent of the
program in Washington, and state funds cover the rest. CHIP covers routine and
preventive care and emergency services.
Nationally, children in families at twice the federal
poverty level (about $49,000 for a family of three) qualify. In Washington, the
qualifying income was extended. Our state uses CHIP funding to also cover
children in families at 250 to 312 percent of the federal poverty level
($51,000 to $61,000 for a family of three), but depending on income level families
may have to pay a premium.
About 16,000 kids in Washington state fall into the higher range,
and they stand to lose coverage February 1, 2018.
Generally, the program is for children whose families make
too much to qualify for Medicaid, but too little to afford care in the private
market.
WHEN WILL IT RUN OUT
Washington state is expected to exhaust its funding in
January 2018.
ARE THERE BILLS UNDER DISCUSSION?
Yes, but there is no consensus in the House; and the Senate is still working out financing details for its bill.
The House version would offset costs for CHIP by cutting funds
for Medicare and the Affordable Care Act.
THE UPSHOT
Federal funding has stopped. States are still spending allocations. Washington state is expected to exhaust its CHIP funds in January 2018. Notices will go out Dec. 1 to families who will lose coverage for their children.
As with Medicaid, CHIP appears to be caught up in efforts to
reduce federal health spending in favor of tax cuts.
ON THE NEWS
- Bill to rescue children’s health program hits snag in House (New York Times, 10/4/2017)
- States gird for worst as Congress wrestle with children’sinsurance program (New York Times, 10/3/2017)
- CHIP covers 9 million kids. Its funding expired thisweekend (Vox, 10/2/2017)
