More than seven million children were enrolled in the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) in 2007—a 5.9 percent increase over the previous year, Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt announced today.
Enrollment data, compiled by the CMS, and based on state reports, show that 7.1 million children were enrolled in SCHIP at some point during federal fiscal year 2007, compared to 6.7 million for fiscal 2006.
SCHIP targets uninsured children who live in families with incomes generally around 200 percent of the federal poverty level—$42,400 for a family of four in 2008—too high in most states to qualify for Medicaid, but in many cases too low to afford private coverage.
“While we are pleased that SCHIP continues to grow, we must do more to reach those at the lowest income levels who still need this coverage,” Secretary Leavitt said. “Toward that end, we will continue to work with Congress on the reauthorization of this vital program."
We continue to work with states to assure that as many eligible, uninsured children as possible are enrolled in SCHIP and Medicaid,” CMS Acting Administrator Kerry Weems said. “As a result, we are seeing more low-income children with access to regular, high quality, affordable health care."
Source: CMS Release, March 12, 2008.
For more information on this and related topics, consult the CCH® Medicare and Medicaid Guide.
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