Maria\u2019s income hovers just near the cutoff, and she recently needed to reduce her hours to keep Maya from losing vital coverage. One missed deadline or document, and Maya could lose access to the frequent care their family can only afford through CHIP to manage her rare genetic disorder.<\/p>\n
Maria\u2019s predicament is not unique. Nearly 1 in 10<\/a> children on CHIP fall off and re-enroll each year, not because they\u2019ve become ineligible but because of paperwork mistakes. These gaps mean missed checkups, unmanaged<\/a> chronic conditions, and trips to the ER where care costs dramatically more.<\/p>\n And for families like Maria\u2019s, the income limits create a cruel cliff. Earning just $1 too much can send health care costs soaring by more than 500%<\/a>, often for worse coverage that excludes dental, hearing, and specialized therapies kids need. Only 3% of CHIP families<\/a> who lose coverage enroll in private alternatives.<\/p>\n \t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\tMedicaid cuts will hurt all American children \u2014 not just those publicly insured<\/a><\/p>\n Of CHIP\u2019s $20 billion annual budget, about $2 billion<\/a> is consumed by administrative costs, forms, files, and eligibility checks, instead of actual care. As a whole, America\u2019s health care administrative expenses are more than double<\/a> those of comparable nations. That money should be redirected to children\u2019s health, not endless forms and verification processes.<\/p>\n With the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid overseeing a newly shrunken budget, cost containment should come from cutting administrative overhead, not by compromising children\u2019s care. The solution is continuous coverage. If a family qualifies for CHIP two years in a row, stop forcing them to re-prove their poverty every year. Grant them coverage until their child ages out, moves states, or gets private insurance.<\/p>\n The data supporting this approach is compelling. States that guarantee 12-month continuous CHIP coverage keep tens of thousands more kids insured, with roughly a 0.1% increase<\/a> in national health care spending. Extending to 24 months costs just 0.1% more. The payoff? Healthier kids<\/a>, less ER use, and lower costs<\/a> in the long run.<\/p>\n By granting continuous coverage until children age out, move states, or acquire private insurance, we could cut administrative waste at CMS to align with the administration\u2019s fiscal goals while helping more children maintain consistent health care coverage.\u00a0<\/p>\n Some worry this would let families \u201cgame the system.\u201d But nearly 90%<\/a> of CHIP recipients are well below the average state\u2019s income limit<\/a>, and most<\/a> who qualify once qualify again and again. Fraud is less of a threat than families falling through the cracks because of paperwork. Bipartisan momentum has already secured 12-month<\/a> continuous CHIP coverage nationwide.\u00a0<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/GettyImages-1236330467-2-768x432.jpg\")
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