Senator Gary Peters warns Michigan children who depend on coverage from the Children's Health Insurance Program or (CHIP) could be affected soon if Congress doesn't vote to extend the program.
The Democrat posted this statement on his Facebook page Wednesday: "The State of Michigan just informed my office that next month, they’ll start notifying Michigan families with kids on the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) that their children may lose their health care if we don’t extend CHIP. Meanwhile, Congressional Republicans are boarding charter buses to celebrate tax cuts for corporations and CEO’s."
Alabama announced this week it would be freezing enrollment in the program in two weeks. Federal Funding for CHIP ran out three months ago and states have been using reserves to keep coverage going for children.
CHIP covers 9 million low-income children in the United States. States are running out of money to pay these children’s medical bills, and several have started notifying parents that their kids’ health care is poised to disappear.
At least 14 states plan to terminate CHIP by the end of January, according to the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation.
Michigan's children could lose their insurance coverage between February and March of 2018 if funding is not restored.
CHIP is called Mi-Child in Michigan. The program pays for health insurance for children up to 18 in families which earn too much money to qualify for Medicaid but can’t afford to buy health insurance.
