CHIP provides free or low-cost health insurance to more than 100,000 Pennsylvania children under 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 increased more than 133 percent. Gov. Ridge also has tripled the state funding for CHIP and enhanced benefits to help increase enrollment. In April 1999, Gov. Ridge announced a dramatic expansion of CHIP to allow an additional 24,000 children into the program. Recognized nationally as a leader, Pennsylvania s Medicaid program is administered by the Department of Public Welfare and provides free 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. DPW also administers Pennsylvania s food-stamp program, which enables qualifies families to get nutritious foods at no cost. The Pennsylvania Department of Health offers a variety of programs to improve children s health in Pennsylvania. One of the Commonwealth s most important missions is to make sure Pennsylvania s children get the quality health care they need and deserve, Zimmerman said.