While college costs have risen significantly in the past few decades, some of those cost increases can be partially mitigated by financial aid for low-income families. But many low- and moderate-income families vastly overestimate the cost of college, leading them to assume that enrolling their children in college, particularly a four-year school,…

The Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act (CHIPRA) of 2009 gave states additional resources and tools aimed at improving participation in Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). In 2007, five million uninsured children were eligible for Medicaid or CHIP, constituting 64 percent of all uninsured children.…

We evaluate the effects of state policy design features on SCHIP take-up rates and on the degree to which SCHIP benefits crowd out private benefits. The results indicate overall program take-up rates of approximately 10 percent. However, there is considerable heterogeneity across states, suggesting a potential role of inter-state variation in…

This report examines some of the ways a sample of Pennsylvania health care providers participating in Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) strive to ensure that the children they serve make use of preventive health care. The report also identifies how managed care organizations or benefits administrators contracting with the…

The Healthy Start and Healthy Families programs offer children up to age 19, parents, and pregnant women in Ohio the health services families need, including doctor's visits, prescriptions, hospitalization, immunizations, prenatal care, eyeglasses, dental care, and mental health care. This tool kit was designed to help practitioners in programs…

States originally had until September 30, 2000 to spend their first year of funds under the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) or else lose any unspent funds. Funds remaining unused after 3 years were to be reallocated to states that had spent their SCHIP funds before the deadline. Only 12 states met the deadline, with many states…

Describes the federal Children's Health Insurance Program, designed to provide free or low-cost health insurance to children in uninsured families with low or moderate incomes. Outlines state innovations in providing outreach to eligible families. Maintains that active early-childhood community involvement is critical to state's efforts to reach…

This testimony of Donna Cohen Ross describes the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities' work to reduce the number of uninsured children. The Center specializes in programs and policies affecting low- and moderate-income families, including issues related to health coverage for the uninsured. It works with many groups on strategies to identify…

Since its creation in 1997, the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) has provided low-income children the access to health care they desperately need. Recognizing the important role health insurance plays in assuring that children come to school healthy and ready to learn, the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSCO) gathered…

This document comprises four issues of a quarterly newsletter about the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and efforts to enroll eligible children in the program. Each issue provides information on related national news events, future events and publications of the Children's Defense Fund, and outreach initiatives in various states. Some…

Health problems impede the academic performance of 12 percent of students. Schools are in a unique position to help their state's Medicaid and children's health insurance programs connect with parents who lack health insurance for their children. This booklet provides suggestions to help school staff identify, inform, and help to enroll families…

Noting that children with special health care needs (CSHCN) make up one of every six children eligible for the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), this study examined how SCHIP responded to the needs of children with chronic illnesses and disabilities. This qualitative study was based on the implementation experiences in 18 states.…

Health problems impede the academic performance of many children. Schools are in a unique position to help their state's Medicaid and children's health insurance programs connect with parents who lack health insurance for their children. This guide provides suggestions for identifying eligible children, informing parents of free or low-cost…

In 1998, 19.7 percent of African American children were uninsured. Since a majority of African American children live in families with incomes below 200 percent of the federal poverty line, they are eligible for free or low-cost insurance coverage. This report presents strategies for facilitating the recruitment and enrollment of African American…

This instructional school-based outreach guide is designed to help state Medicaid and state Child Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) agencies to initiate and sustain school-based outreach targeted to children potentially eligible for enrollment in Medicaid and SCHIP programs. Based on a review of state best practices undertaken by the U.S.…