To keep America’s children healthy, a program known as CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program) was enacted in 1997. This federal program provided states with a large “block grant” to fund a state managed health care program designed to cover children of the working poor. Federal funding currently covers 70% of money needed to run the program and the states cover the other 30%.
- Have a Heart for Idaho’s children. Support CHIP funding.
- Will they say yes to our children?
- Will they say yes to our future?
- Senator Crapo, will you support funding for CHIP?
- Can you say no to her?
- Governor Otter, will you support funding for CHIP?
- We shall see…
The federal funding for this program is set to end in September 2015 and without a reauthorization of the funds by Congress:
- States will be left scrambling to cover all of the costs until the program expires in 2019.
- Millions of children could lose the comprehensive health care necessary to grow and learn and become the next generation of healthy and productive citizens.
- Lives will be lost! Without access to care, our children could die.
- Good paying healthcare jobs will disappear.
We need to send a loud and clear message to Congress, to keep our children healthy with continued funding for CHIP!