Texas cannot afford to gamble on the health of its children. It is healthy, educated children who are the foundation of our state's economy and future workforce. Health Benefits of CHIP Insuring children through private or public insurance increases children's access to needed, appropriate, and generally less-costly services. Uninsured children are 50 percent less likely to have had a routine physician or dental visit within the past year. Routine check-ups increase the likelihood that children will receive immunizations, vision checks, dental exams, and general health screenings.
Uninsured children are more likely to harbor long-term health problems that are costlier to treat.
Economic Impact of CHIP CHIP will benefit not only the health care community, parents, and children, but the entire economy. Federal CHIP dollars not used by Texas will be given to other states. Insuring children reduces employers' and taxpayers' health care costs and tax burdens by promoting families' appropriate access to and use of the health care system. Small employers, which often cannot afford to offer health insurance to their employees, will benefit from CHIP because the program will give parents an affordable option for insuring their children. CHIP also will benefit large employers by reducing cost-shifting for uncompensated care.