Jan. 30--HARRISBURG -- Gov. Tom Corbett's upcoming budget proposal will add funding to promote the Children's Health Insurance Program in hopes of enrolling more uninsured children, the insurance commissioner said today.

CHIP provides coverage for children to age 19. It bases premiums on household income and offers free coverage to families who qualify.

About 95 percent of Pennsylvania children are covered by health insurance, according to the most recent statistics of the Insurance Department. The budget proposal to be announced Tuesday will include an addition of $8.5 million for outreach to families with uninsured children, Insurance Commissioner Michael Consedine said.

"We'd like to see that number at 100 percent," Mr. Consedine said. "There's no reason a child shouldn't have health insurance in this state."

More than 188,000 children receive insurance through CHIP. The program has provided coverage to more than one million children since 1993, when its benefits became available. It served as a model for a federal children's health insurance program in 1997, according to the Insurance Department.

Karen Langley: klangley@post-gazette.com or 717-787-2141.

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