What is SCHIP?

SCHIP stands for the State Children's Health Insurance Program. It is a U.S. federal government program that will match funds with a state in order to provide health insurance to children who are not covered. The primary goal of SCHIP is to provide care for children of families with income in the low range who would not qualify for other healthcare programs provided by the government. Since the creation of SCHIP in 1997, it has become one of the largest increases in government health care expenditures in the last forty years.

SCHIP has become a popular issue during 2008 and 2009 with partisan support. Proponents of the program state that this is a way to insure children when they would otherwise not be insured, stating that if they don’t have insurance but they are at the age that they need protection. Opponents of the bill believe that this is a form of socialized medicine. Opponents also state that it will drain state resources and that the responsibility for a child's health ultimately lies on the parents of the family. Further, opponents state that the bill will provide health care for illegal aliens as a part of the program.

In December of 2007, Congress passed legislation that would increase the funding and continue the program at least until 2009. With President Obama, funding of the program will more than likely continue until at least 2012.

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