Health Coverage Expanded for Children

Posted in Health Care , Health Insurance

January 4th, 2010

Parents in Kansas are excited about an expansion approval that will allow thousands of children to become eligible for low-cost health insurance, starting Jan. 1, 2010. The expansion occurred within the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) and will offer significant opportunities to Kansas families who can’t afford private health insurance for their children.

What is SCHIP?

SCHIP is a federal-state program that offers health coverage to uninsured children whose families earn too much money to qualify for Medicaid; however, still have a difficult time affording health coverage. The program receives about 72 percent of its funding from the federal government and 28 percent from the state. In Nov. 2009, 39,447 Kansas children were enrolled in the program.

The Expansion of SCHIP

Now that the program has expanded, the eligibility limit will increase from 200 percent of the federal poverty level to 250 percent. In other words, instead of having a $44,000 a year income threshold for a family of three, it will increase to about $53,000 for a family of four. Under the program, a family with children will pay between $20 and $75 per month, depending on income.

In addition to this expansion, the Kansas Health Policy Authority (KHPA) was awarded a five-year, $40.3 million federal grant that will be used to help enhance outreach efforts. Also, it will allow KHPA to acquire new technology, which is said to hopefully streamline the application process.