Even though it is not part of the job description and not his agency’s responsibility, Matt has been working as Insurance Commissioner to enroll more kids in the state Children’s Health Insurance Program, known as CHIP. Fewer than half of the children eligible for CHIP are currently enrolled. Matt’s plan is to make affordable health coverage available to every child in Delaware by expanding CHIP. He also has plans to do a better job enrolling eligible children than has been done recently.

Expand CHIP In Delaware To 300 Percent Of Poverty. Currently, families earning between 100 and 200 percent of the federal poverty level ($21,200 to $42,400 for a family of four) are eligible for CHIP, which is health insurance funded in part by the federal and state governments. Delaware should follow the successful lead of other states and expand the eligibility level to 300 percent of poverty ($63,600 for family of four). Such a move would require a federal waiver.

Allow Families Over 300 Percent Of Poverty To Buy In To CHIP. CHIP provides quality health care coverage. Allowing families with incomes over 300 percent of poverty ($63,600 for family of four) to buy in to the CHIP program — paying the full cost for their coverage rather than being subsidized by the state and federal governments as lower-income families are — would open a very affordable option for health coverage for middle class families. The buy-in cost is estimated at $150 per month. If the state’s budget situation allowed, Delaware could consider a sliding premium scale, with a small subsidy for families just over 300 percent of poverty.

Enroll More Children Below 200 Percent of Poverty In CHIP. It is estimated that less than half of the Delaware children currently eligible for CHIP are actually enrolled in it, due largely to a lack of outreach by state government. The state should move from monthly premiums to co-pays, quickly enroll families into CHIP rather than waiting months for their income to be verified, and increase enrollment efforts using school nurses, hospital maternity wards and early childhood centers. Increased CHIP outreach has also been shown to bring more children onto Medicaid, which is for families under 100 percent of the poverty level ($21,200 for a family of four).