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News Release

HHS APPROVES ILLINOIS PLAN TO EXPAND COVERAGE
TO AN ESTIMATED 20,000 UNINSURED CHILDREN

HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson today approved a proposal by Illinois to further expand its State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) and provide health insurance to thousands of children who otherwise would not have coverage.

State officials expect the new expansion of their SCHIP program (known as KidCare) to cover an additional 20,000 currently uninsured children. This new group is in addition to the 109,000 children already enrolled in the program.

"This approval means many more Illinois children will enjoy healthier lives and be able to get the health care they need, when they need it," Secretary Thompson said. "The Bush Administration will continue to work together with states to find ways to improve the health and welfare of our children."

With the approval, Illinois can expand KidCare eligibility to children in families whose income is up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level -- up from the current limit of 185 percent of the federal poverty level. The federal poverty level for a family of four is $18,400.

SCHIP gives states three options for devising a plan to cover uninsured children: designing a new child health insurance program; expanding current Medicaid programs; or a combination of both strategies. HHS must approve any amendment to a state's SCHIP plan.

Illinois' initial SCHIP plan, a Medicaid expansion, was approved in April 1998. In March 2000, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services approved the state's separate SCHIP program for children up to 185 percent of the FPL. The state provides coverage that is equivalent to the state employee health plan. Some premiums and copayments are charged on a sliding scale based on the family's income. There is a $100 annual copayment maximum for all families.

"Illinois' newly expanded program is a positive demonstration that SCHIP is working to reduce the number of uninsured children in America," said Tom Scully, administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, which administers SCHIP, Medicaid, and Medicare.

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Last Revised: August 28, 2003