HARRISBURG – Gov. Edward G. Rendell said the final piece of his “Cover All Kids” proposal to expand Pennsylvania’s Children’s Health Insurance Program has been approved by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, continuing Pennsylvania’s leadership in providing access to affordable health insurance for all uninsured children and teens, up to age 19.
“Our pledge was to ensure that every Pennsylvania child had access to health insurance coverage, and today we can start to make that pledge a reality,” Rendell said. “This CHIP expansion will make a huge difference in the lives of so many Pennsylvania families. Since we announced this initiative last year, we have been in contact with more than 12,000 families, who have told us they need our expanded CHIP program as soon as it’s available.
“Today, I am pleased to tell those families and the many others in need of health insurance for their children that an affordable option is now available, so they should apply. I also encourage them to spread the word to others in need of health care coverage for their children.
“This approval from the federal government also bodes well for my new ‘Cover All Pennsylvanians’ initiative, a private-sector program to make quality health insurance more affordable and available for certain small businesses and for uninsured adults,” the Governor added. “That program, which is modeled on Cover All Kids and will soon be considered by the General Assembly, would require a similar approval from the federal government. Approval of our Cover All Kids plan shows us that the thinking behind our innovative programs is sound and acceptable to regulators in Washington.”
The Governor noted it is important that children have access to a wide range of health-care services in order to have a healthy start in life. This approved CHIP expansion offers affordable, comprehensive health care coverage to any uninsured child and teen up to age 19. It offers coverage for services including doctors’ visits, hospital care, prescription drugs, vision, dental and home health care, as well as, mental health and substance abuse services.
Many families will not have to pay for CHIP. Premiums will be affordable for all families because the premium payment is on a sliding scale based on the families’ income. There is no cost for families who qualify for free CHIP. Average monthly premiums for low-cost CHIP could range between $38 and $60 per month, per child. Families with higher incomes who qualify for at-cost CHIP will pay approximately $150 per month, per child. These families who are unable to purchase insurance because their children have pre-existing conditions or for whom insurance is not affordable will be able to purchase coverage at cost.
Additional information about premiums is available at www.CHIPcoversPAkids.com. For additional information, parents may call a CHIP counselor at
1-800-986-KIDS (5437) or visit www.compass.state.pa.us to apply online.