CHIP provides free or low-cost health insurance to children under age 19 whose families earn too much to qualify for Medicaid, but not enough to purchase private health insurance. Since Gov. Ridge took office, enrollments for CHIP have more than doubled. Gov. Ridge also has increased funding for CHIP by more than 200 percent and enhanced benefits to help increase enrollment. In April 1999, Gov. Ridge announced a dramatic expansion of CHIP, making an additional 24,000 children eligible for the program. Recognized nationally as a leader, Pennsylvania's Medicaid program is administered by the department of Public Welfare and provides free and comprehensive health benefits to approximately 1.4 million qualified Pennsylvanians, half of them children.
Eligibility is based on family income and size, and age of children.
Medicaid benefits may include checkups, sick visits, prescriptions, shots and vision care. Medicaid is not linked to cash assistance and is available to many low-income working families. Helpline operators have a network of more than 3,000 providers statewide to connect callers who seek health care for their babies, children and families. Since then, the network has made more than 70,000 referrals for families. The network now includes more than 7,800 providers who offer more than 100 different kinds of services related to education and training, health-care products, recreation and leisure, social service and counseling, support and advocacy, and therapy.