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Medicaid & SCHIP

According to insurekidsnow.gov, in 2008 more than 35 million children were enrolled in the Children's Health Insurance Program, or CHIP, and an estimated one in seven Americans under age 65 is enrolled in Medicaid, according to the New Jersey Statewide Parents Advocacy Network. Both Medicaid and CHIP are available nationwide to low-income families who need access to affordable and quality health insurance.

  1. Differences

    • Medicaid and CHIP are both federally funded and state administered health insurance programs available throughout the U.S. Medicaid covers a wide population of people, including the blind, disabled, pregnant women and low-income families. CHIP, on the other hand, is only available to children. Each state regulates its CHIP program, offering free or reduced health insurance premiums to low-income families.

    Benefits

    • CHIP is available in every U.S. state, and benefits include childhood vaccinations, regular well-check doctor visits, inpatient and outpatient hospital services, lab services and routine dental coverage. Medicaid, is also available in every U.S. state, and its benefits are usually offered free. Participants enrolled in Medicaid receive hospital care, doctor's visits, health screenings, immunizations and preventive care. Children enrolled in Medicaid receive all of those benefits, as well as full dental and vision coverage.

    Eligibility

    • Each state sets its own eligibility requirements for Medicaid and CHIP programs. However, most families with incomes less than 100 percent of the federal poverty level are eligible for Medicaid. CHIP income requirements are more diverse. Some states, like North Dakota, only accept CHIP applicants from households with incomes below 160 percent of the federal poverty level, while others, such as New York, may accept families that make as much as 400 percent of the federal poverty level. CHIP benefits are extended to qualifying children ages 0 to 18. For more information about state income requirements, visit insurekidsnow.gov.

    The Affordable Care Act

    • The 2010 Affordable Care Act seeks to expand access to Medicaid and CHIP benefits nationwide. Under the law, states have increased access to federally matched funding for Medicaid and CHIP programs. This provision provides financial help for states to increase their current limits for Medicaid and CHIP eligibility, effectively allowing more Americans access to affordable health insurance. However, states do not have to take advantage of the additional money and can leave their income guidelines as-is.

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