CHIP

Instead of simply losing weight or quitting smoking, make it your New Year's resolution to provide your children with adequate insurance coverage this year. Idaho's Children's Health Insurance Program is a great way to do that.
CHIP gives coverage to children and teens from low-income families, just like Medicaid. However, whereas Medicaid helps children from families with an income below 133 percent of poverty guidelines, CHIP helps a broader range of people.
CHIP-A's program aids children from families whose income is between 133 and 150 percent of poverty guidelines. Its coverage is identical to that of Medicaid. The B program, which was added in July 2004, covers children from families whose income is between 150 and 185 percent of the guidelines. The coverage is less extensive than that of the A plan.
Furthermore, families eligible for the B program have the option of choosing the Access Card, which basically helps families with premiums and co-payments if they choose to carry private insurance-including through employers.
CHIP can greatly enhance the quality of health care your children receive, which is so important as their bodies continue to develop. In turn, children who are taken care of physically are more likely to be successful in other facets of life, such as their education. Because the cost of health care often is quite expensive, CHIP is a valuable asset in looking out for our state's lower-income families.
But this aid won't be utilized unless you take action. So far, less than a third of CHIP-B's slots have been filled, and CHIP-A's capacity also hasn't been reached, according to Idaho Department of Health and Welfare spokesman Ross Mason.
The first and most important step toward receiving aid is to fill out CHIP's four-page application-not too much of a sacrifice when your children's health is on the line.

For more information on CHIP contact the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare to find out if your family is eligible: Phone Idaho CareLine at 2-1-1 or (800) 926-2588. Also look on the Web at www.healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/