[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 66 (Wednesday, May 24, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E821]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               STATE CHILDREN'S HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. RUBEN HINOJOSA

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 23, 2000

  Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, I am happy to announce that for the first 
time, a Children's Health Insurance Program, or CHIP, is available in 
South Texas. CHIP is low-cost health coverage provided under a state-
subsidized insurance program. Any Texas uninsured child, newborns 
through age 18, are eligible. All costs are flexible, and based on 
family income. For example, a family of four qualifies if the household 
income is $34,000 or less. If you make more than that, you can qualify 
for greatly-reduced insurance through another program, Texas 
HealthyKids.
  The CHIP operates like a Health Maintenance Organization, or MHO. It 
is run by the TexCare Partnership which partners with all 254 Texas 
counties to sponsor services through one of three different plans: 
CHIP, Medicaid, or Texas HealthyKids. CHIP provides services such as 
hospital care, surgery, x-rays, therapies, prescription drugs, mental 
health and substance abuse treatment, emergency services, eye tests and 
glasses, dental care, and regular health check-ups and vaccinations.
  For Texas, CHIP is funded from the proceeds of our tobacco settlement 
with the tobacco companies a couple of years ago. It is critically 
important in our state because Texas has the highest rate of uninsured 
in the country. And unfortunately, Texas has the nation's second-
highest number of uninsured children. The worst problem we have is that 
not enough parents are using this great program.
  South Texas, in particular, has carried the burden of uninsured 
children for many years. About 1.4 million of Texas' 5.8 million 
children lack health insurance, but 470,000 of them are now eligible 
for coverage under CHIP. Almost one-fourth--109,000--of the newly-
eligible kids live on the Texas-Mexico border. When children don't have 
health insurance, they have to rely on costly medical treatment at the 
last minute. This threatens the child's future well-being. But now we 
have a true opportunity to change that. CHIP will give a lot of 
children the opportunity to lead healthy lives, without the fear of 
getting sick.
  Let me share a quote with you from a parent from my district who 
recently went through the enrollment process: ``My husband and I are 
hardworking middle-income people who were disqualified from Medicaid 
because I became employed. We have two incomes and * * * can't afford 
(insurance). Now we are told by TexCare Partnership we will have 
insurance for our children with low premiums and low co-payments that 
we can afford. My children have health care when they need it.''
  CHIP was first implemented in 1998 to address a national crisis--
almost 12 million children that were without insurance. In Texas, we 
are now able to offer insurance to approximately 1.8 million children 
that otherwise would have none.
  While we can make this offer, it is up to each parent or guardian to 
enroll, or at least inquire about getting, their children in this 
program. Believe it or not, the hardest part of the CHIP program is 
getting parents to enroll their children. More parents need to take 
advantage of this genuinely great program. I want to stress that even 
if a parent has never qualified for health insurance for their child 
before, now they can.
  CHIP solves the cost problem for many Texas families. In CHIP, many 
families will only pay an annual fee of $15 to cover all their children 
in the plan. Some higher-income families will pay monthly premiums of 
$15 or 418, which covers all children in the family. Most families will 
also have co-payments for doctor/dental visits, prescription drugs, and 
emergency care. And families must re-enroll their children once a year. 
Children can only get this insurance if their parents apply, and I hope 
all parents will take the initiative and make certain your children are 
enrolled.
  The application process is simple and straight-forward--any Texan can 
call 1-800-647-6558 between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, 
and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. If parents want local assistance or 
information in my congressional district, they can call the 
organization ``ADVANCE'' at 956-618-1642, or visit any public library 
in Hidalgo County to pick up a bilingual brochure and application.




                          ____________________