AcademyHealth Stateside - 01/23/2007 (Plain Text Version)In this issue: States Looking to Extend Coverage to All Children
Momentum is building to ensure all children have access to health coverage. Connecticut’s Husky B program, the state’s SCHIP program, was the first state in the nation to allow uninsured children in families above 300 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL) to buy into the program. Then, in November 2005, Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich (D) signed the Covering All Kids Health Insurance Act, making insurance coverage available to all uninsured children in that state. Several states have followed Illinois’ lead. The Illinois All Kids program was implemented in July 2006 and is open to any child uninsured for 12 months or more, with no citizenship requirements. Families pay monthly premiums and co-payments on a sliding scale basis. The expansion is funded through enrollee cost-sharing as well as savings generated from new care management initiatives. Since July 2006, over 28,000 children have enrolled in the new expansion program. Pennsylvania’s General Assembly enacted the Cover All Kids program in October 2006. This new program will be implemented as a SCHIP expansion and will allow families to purchase health insurance on a sliding scale basis relative to their income. Families above 300 percent FPL will purchase coverage at full cost. The state aims to begin enrollment in March 2007 and cover 15,000 additional children in the first year of the program. Tennessee also passed legislation to cover all children. The state is developing a new stand-alone SCHIP program for children in families with incomes up to 250 percent FPL (coverage for children had previously been a part of the TennCare program). Children in higher income families will be able to buy into the program. In recent months, other states have announced similar proposals:
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