Bipartisan Govs: ‘Reauthorize CHIP As Quickly As Possible’

SENATE REPUBLICAN COMMUNICATIONS CENTER

Contact: Antonia Ferrier 202.228.NEWS

Bipartisan Govs: 'Reauthorize CHIP As Quickly As Possible'

8.9 Million Children Nationwide Covered by State Children's Health Insurance Program

SEN. ORRIN HATCH (R-UT), Finance Committee Chairman: "[T]he House bill would extend funding for the Children's Health Insurance Program for six years, which is the longest extension since the creation of the program.... I'll remind my colleagues that, this past September, the Finance Committee's Ranking Member, Senator Wyden, and I introduced a long-term, bipartisan CHIP extension bill that was overwhelmingly reported out of the committee.... The House's bill is identical to the legislation Senator Wyden and I introduced last fall, except that the funding continues for one more year...." (U.S. Senate Finance Committee, Press Release, 1/17/2018) [https://www.finance.senate.gov/chairmans-news/hatch-this-is-the-longest-chip-extension-since-its-creation]

Twelve Bipartisan Governors: 'Give The Families Who Rely On CHIP The Peace Of Mind Of Knowing That Their Children Will Be Able To Get The Health Care They Need'

"We ask that you make it a priority to reauthorize the Children's Health Insurance program (CHIP) as quickly as possible. We believe covering children and pregnant women without disruption is one thing we can all agree on. For twenty years, this program has successfully provided vital health coverage and care to about nine million children. Without it, access to essential health services like well child exams, asthma medicine, and hospitalizations will be at risk. As health insurance premiums climb at unsustainable rates, this program gives hard-working families access to otherwise unaffordable coverage.... We encourage you to... allow this important program to continue and give the families who rely on CHIP the peace of mind of knowing that their children will be able to get the health care they need in the new year." (12 Governors, Letter to Speaker Ryan, Rep. Pelosi, and Sens. McConnell and Schumer, 12/12/2017)

Letter signed by: Gov. John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Gov. John Kasich (R-OH), Gov. Bill Walker (I-AK), Gov. John Bel Edwards (D-LA), Gov. Tom Wolf (D-PA), Gov. Chris Sununu (R-NH), Gov. Charles Baker (R-MA), Gov. Steve Bullock (D-MT), Gov. Phil Scott (R-VT), Gov. Brian Sandoval (R-NV), Gov. Mark Dayton (D-MN), Then-Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D-VA)

State-by-State SCHIP Coverage

Total SCHIP-Funded Coverage - 2016

State

Population

United States Total

8,900,074

Alabama

150,040

Alaska

15,662

Arizona

88,224

Arkansas

120,863

California

2,022,213

Colorado

167,227

Connecticut

25,551

Delaware

17,784

District of Columbia

13,943

Florida

374,884

Georgia

232,050

Hawaii

25,780

Idaho

35,964

Illinois

325,990

Indiana

114,927

Iowa

84,989

Kansas

79,319

Kentucky

92,728

Louisiana

161,565

Maine

23,257

Maryland

137,592

Massachusetts

185,578

Michigan

82,693

Minnesota

3,876

Mississippi

88,531

Missouri

87,790

Montana

44,688

Nebraska

55,041

Nevada

68,951

New Hampshire

17,946

New Jersey

230,960

New Mexico

15,100

New York

684,625

North Carolina

256,446

North Dakota

4,955

Ohio

223,583

Oklahoma

187,971

Oregon

140,786

Pennsylvania

342,268

Rhode Island

36,262

South Carolina

81,574

South Dakota

18,501

Tennessee

105,990

Texas

1,075,212

Utah

58,410

Vermont

5,305

Virginia

192,831

Washington

66,517

West Virginia

48,187

Wisconsin

171,552

Wyoming

7,387

("Child Enrollment In CHIP And Medicaid By State, FY 2016," MACStats, 12/2017) (https://www.macpac.gov/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/EXHIBIT-32.-Child-Enrollment-in-CHIP-and-Medicaid-by-State-FY-2016.pdf)

SENATE REPUBLICAN COMMUNICATIONS CENTER

202.228.NEWS