Senate Bill 200 Unveiled To Increase Access To The Delaware Health Children (CHIP) Program

Contact: Patrick Jackson at 744-4046

Together with Lt. Gov. John Carney, Senate Majority Whip Patricia Blevins and Rep. Terry Schooley announced today the introduction of legislation to eliminate premium payments for enrollment in the Delaware Healthy Children (CHIP) program. The program provides comprehensive health insurance, including well-care visits, hospitalization, prescription coverage and dental care to children whose families' income is between 100 percent and 200 percent of poverty.

Approximately 45 percent of Delaware's eligible children are enrolled in the program. "We can do better for our children," said Carney, chairman of the Delaware Health Care Commission. "We have an obligation to make it as easy as possible for Delaware's children to have accessible and high quality health care coverage."

"Participation in the Delaware Healthy Children Program is declining, and there are 5,000 children in Delaware who are eligible for this program, and yet are not enrolled," said Blevins, Elsmere, the bill's lead sponsor. "Elimination of the payment of premiums will make the program more affordable, and will help families keep their children enrolled during times of good health."

Schooley, D-Newark, the House sponsor of the legislation, says that this proposal could pay big dividends for the state. "Getting kids the care and check-ups they need helps hold down the costs for society if they get sick later," she said. "If children are coming to school healthy, they're better able to learn, and we all benefit from that."

Currently, the state is returning $3 million per year to the federal government because of low participation in the program, which is paid for jointly by state and federal funds. A portion of this funding is eligible to be used to offset the cost of premium elimination. Senate Bill 200 also allows the state to institute a small co-payment for medical services to further offset these costs.

Deborah Gottschalk, a leader in the child advocacy group Action for Children, said that constant movement in and out of the system hurts children's health. "We find children aren't getting the kind of check-ups and preventative care they need when they aren't in the program," she said. "That can lead to illness and drives up the cost of health care."

Deborah Wilson, the President and CEO of the Metropolitan Urban League, applauded the introduction of Senate Bill 200. "We know that getting and keeping health insurance is a huge problem for people of color, and the impact is wide ranging. We look forward to working with our partners on this important legislation," she said.