A Brief History of CHIP
A Brief History of CHIP
On December 2, 1992, former Governor Robert P. Casey signed into law House Bill 20 (HB 20), better known as the Children's Health Insurance Act. Legislation initially was sponsored by Representative Allen G. Kukovich (D) in the House, and Senator Allyson D. Schwartz (D) in the Senate.
HB 20 created the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), a one of a kind program designed to provide insurance coverage to children whose families earn too much to qualify for Medical Assistance, but who could not afford to purchase private insurance. Pennsylvania's CHIP program would later be used as the model for the federal government's SCHIP program. Legislation for the federal CHIP program was signed into law August 5, 1997 by former President Bill Clinton.
In 2007, Governor Edward G. Rendell expanded CHIP eligibility with his Cover All Kids initiative. Now, all uninsured children and teens up to age 19 in the commonwealth, who are not eligible for Medical Assistance, will have access to affordable, comprehensive health-care coverage. It's the same great program, now available to all families.
