CHIPing Away at the Problem of Uninsured Children

Publication Date: August 1998

Publisher: Center for Studying Health System Change

Author(s): James D. Reschovsky; Peter J. Cunningham

Research Area: Health

Type: Brief

Abstract:

The State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), enacted one year ago this August, is the largest expansion of health insurance in more than three decades. One of the measures of its success will be whether state officials are able to enroll children who are eligible. Research conducted by Health System Change (HSC) shows that uninsured children are a diverse group, and that for CHIP to be successful, policy makers will need to target programs to specific groups and local market conditions. This Issue Brief discusses why children lack health insurance and the implications for implementing CHIP.