The state Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP)

PURPOSE: To provide an overview of the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), along with implications for practice as it applies to nurse practitioners. DATA SOURCES: Extensive review of the on-line and published literature on CHIP. CONCLUSIONS: Congress established CHIP in an effort to reduce the high number of uninsured children in America. Each state administers its own program and children who are under age 19, 200% below federal poverty levels, and ineligible for Medicaid may qualify. Even though CHIP has made health care possible for over 3 million children, there are still many obstacles that need to be overcome to ensure that access to healthcare is a reality for America's children. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Although CHIP has made healthcare accessible for many low income children, there are still hundreds of children left without health insurance. Many children who could qualify for CHIP remain without access to healthcare. Nurse practitioners have the opportunity to make healthcare a reality for children by becoming knowledgeable about this plan in order to refer patients to the program who are eligible and by advocating for future legislation that will ensure its long term success.