SCHIP Renewal

IN FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR, THE STATE CHILDREN'S HEALTH Insurance Program (SCHIP) Reauthorization Act of 2009 was officially extended through 2013. SCHIP is a joint insurance program between the federal government and the states, which provides health insurance for low-income children and pregnant women who are not eligible for Medicaid. That is, states provide SCHIP for children in families with incomes up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level ($21,000 to $42,000 for a family of four). SCHIP currently provides health care insurance to approximately 7 million children who otherwise would not receive health care benefits.¹ There are an additional 6 million children who are eligible, but not enrolled in either SCHIP or Medicaid.² As more families face job loss and the associated loss of health insurance, SCHIP is even more important for the health and development of infants and children in low income families.