Funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) expired at the end of September. Reauthorization of this program, which serves 9 million low- and middle-income children, has historically been a bipartisan affair, but (as you know) we are not in a typical political environment.
Congress needs to hear from you. Tell your legislators not to let politics interfere with the lives of millions of children and hardworking families!
Our scriptures and sacred teachings inspire a special concern for those experiencing vulnerability, such as children. No family should have to face the terrible decision between putting food on the table, paying rent, or providing health coverage for their child. Funding CHIP is part of our sacred obligation to care for one another.
In addition, this is a program that works and works well. Since it was created the rate of children without health insurance has fallen from nearly 15% in 1997 to a record-low 5% in 2015. For two decades, the program has provided quality coverage to millions of children in working families whose parents earn too much to qualify for Medicaid and not enough to purchase private health insurance on their own.
Without swift action to extend funding, states will be forced to make difficult decisions as they plan their budgets. The longer Congress waits to renew the program, the more likely it is that states will have to impose enrollment slowdowns or even cancel policies.
Act now! Tell Congress to enact a bipartisan, long-term funding extension of CHIP!