Inside Scoop

Children's Health Insurance: Available, But Unused

In 1997, Congress created the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) to provide coverage to uninsured kids whose parents earn too much to qualify for Medicaid. But four years after CHIP's passage, the number of uninsured children in the United States remains at crisis levels. Millions have no insurance, and experts say lack of information about who qualifies for CHIP is the main reason. Recent changes in the law make it possible for public school educators to play a key role in getting insurance coverage for their children.

Why was CHIP created?
In 1997, there were 11 million children in the United States without health insurance.
The federal government estimated that half of these kids came from families who earned too much to qualify for Medicaid, but who nevertheless could not afford private health insurance.
The CHIP legislation's co-sponsors, Senators Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.), crafted the program to close this gap, hoping CHIP would cover half of the nation's uninsured kids.

Who's eligible?
Because the program is administered by individual states, eligibility varies. But in most states, families earning up to $35,000 a year (based on a four-member family) can qualify for CHIP. State-by-state information on eligibility and benefits is available online from the Washington, DC-based nonprofit Children's Defense Fund at
www.childrensdefense.org/signthemuphealthy.htm.

Has CHIP been successful?
Partly. During the first three years of the program, 2.5 million children were enrolled. But this is far short of the federal and state governments' goal. Today, 11 million U.S. kids remain uninsured-the same number as in 1997. As fast as children sign up for CHIP, other children lose their health insurance. That's because states are pushing families off welfare, and many people are not told when they leave welfare that they are still eligible for Medicaid. Most of the jobs that former welfare recipients are taking do not provide health insurance. The latest figures say that one in every seven children in America has no health insurance. Those without coverage include 29 percent of American Indian children, 28 percent of Hispanic children, 18 percent of Black children, 17 percent of Asian children, and nine percent of white children.An estimated six million of America's uninsured children are eligible for CHIP or Medicaid.

Why aren't more kids enrolled?
According to Bill England of the Children's Defense Fund, "The number one reason is that their parents don't know they're eligible.

"Through surveys and focus groups, we've found that, nationally, six out of every 10 parents whose children are eligible for either CHIP or Medicaid don't believe that the programs apply to them.
"There is a devastating lack of awareness out there about CHIP."

What's being done to make parents more aware of CHIP?
Last year, there was a big breakthrough in outreach. Congress passed legislation that-with families' consent-allows school lunch programs and the Women, Infants, and Children Program (WIC) to share information with CHIP and Medicaid, linking up their outreach efforts.

Since the overlap in eligibility for these programs is vast, large numbers of kids who qualify for CHIP can now be identified through this inter-agency sharing of financial data.

How do schools play a part in this effort?
According to Bill England, "Schools now have a vital role in improving outreach to parents eligible for CHIP."
Because income information from applications for free or reduced-cost lunches may now, with consent, be shared with CHIP and Medicaid, school districts across the nation have the potential to direct millions of eligible kids to these programs. And the effort is already under way.

In Minneapolis, for example, if parents apply for free or discounted school lunches for their kids, these kids will automatically be enrolled as well in CHIP-unless a parent specifically declines insurance.

England believes that "schools may become the most important resource we have for getting kids the health coverage they need."

Can individual educators help?
Absolutely. As England points out, "Parents look to school staff, not just for education, but for any help they can get in ensuring the well-being of their children."

NEA members can work to get their own schools, and other schools in their districts, involved in information-sharing and other outreach efforts.

They can also provide invaluable assistance to parents who don't know if they're eligible for insurance.
To assist teachers in such efforts, the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration has produced Healthy Kids Are Ready To Learn: Promoting Health Insurance for Your Students, a
comprehensive guide to how schools and school employees can work with agencies, organizations, and families to get kids enrolled in health insurance programs.

It's available online at www.ask.hrsa.gov or toll free from HRSA at 888/ASK-HRSA (888/275-4772). 4
-Matt Simon

For More: Go to www.childrensdefense.org/signthemuphealthy.htm. At the U.S. map, click on your state.