Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Funding was Allowed to Quietly Expire

Matt Boster

Viewed: 2747

Posted by: Matt Boster
Date: Dec 22 2017 7:28 AM

Enterprise Pediatrician Summitted this Article:  Aside from cheering for the same football team, the local doctor’s office nurse, the dad working nights at a local refinery and a full-time college student may have little in common.  But, these three people were among the first to respond in outrage this week when the Alabama Department of Public Health announced disenrollment of children in All Kids.

 

ALL Kids is health insurance for almost 150,000 Alabama children.  A family of three who makes about $63,471/year can enroll their children for about $100/year and pay copays of $5-$200 for doctor and hospital visits, and prescriptions. For families who earn enough not to qualify for Medicaid, but can’t afford an up to $900/month family health plan offered by their employer, All Kids is a lifeline.

 

All Kids was born out of the 1997 federally-funded Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), a bipartisan block grant program to address the growing gap in healthcare coverage for children in working families.  Children with access to healthcare miss fewer school days, are more likely to graduate from high school, and grow into healthier adults who eventually earn higher wages and pay more taxes. 

 

Ensuring kids have access to healthcare is a win-win for Alabama.  Unfortunately, unless something changes soon, this 20-year win is about to turn into a huge loss.

 

On September 30, largely unnoticed by the people who need it the most, CHIP funding was allowed to quietly expire.  This week parents of 150,000 Alabama children learn their children will no longer have health coverage beginning February 1, 2018.  Talk about a Christmas present!

 

Nothing motivates Congress like deadlines and angry parents.  Let your Congressmen know that Alabamians believe hard-working families deserve the peace of mind that comes when their children can get healthcare at a price they can afford.  Call or write today!

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