After months of uncertainty, Congress has passed long-term funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program. For Virginians that means more than 60,000 low-income children will be able to keep their coverage.
Linda Nablo is Chief Deputy Director of Virginia’s Medicaid program. Nablo had several letters drafted and ready to send to families, depending on what happened with the Children’s Health Insurance Program. She’s excited to be able to send what she calls the best letter.
“Concern has passed, the program remains. Your child is still covered. All you have to do is be sure you renew on time when it’s time to do that,” Nablo said in a phone interview Tuesday. “So I’m waiting for that letter to get the final approval and we hope to have it printed and in the mail in about 48 hours.”
Related: More than Insurance on the Line, How the Loss of CHIP Could Affect Families
Since September DMAS had been preparing to shut down the popular health insurance program because Congress had let funding lapse. Amid healthcare and tax debates, CHIP was continually put on the back burner.
“And that it cost a lot of stress at the state level, a lot of worry for parents and providers, Nablo said. “It’s great that it’s over, but it’s no way to do business going forward.”
As part of the short term budget deal that ended the government shutdown, Congress has agreed to keep paying for CHIP for six more years. Under the deal the federal share of the program will start to be reduced to pre-Affordable Care Act levels in two years.
Congress did not opt to extend the program for ten years, despite estimates from the Congressional Budget Office that that would save money in the long term.
Nablo says that might mean Congress will consider changes to the program, but that state agencies will cross that bridge when it comes.
This report, provided by Virginia Public Radio, was made possible with support from the Virginia Education Association.
