State Children's Health Insurance Program

• Congress, in 1997, enacted the State Children's Health Insurance Program, known as CHIP. The program was designed to provide health care coverage to children in families whose income exceeds the eligibility requirements for Medicaid but who cannot afford to purchase health insurance. Each state develops its own CHIP program and determines eligibility requirements and other program details.
  President Barack Obama signed the CHIP reauthorization bill into law in 2009. The reauthorization made federal support for state CHIP programs available through 2013 and encouraged states to increase enrollment. According to The New York Times, some states expanded their CHIP programs. In others, including Alaska, state legislation proposed in 2009 to expand the programs was not approved.
  
  

Eligibility in Alaska

• The Alaska CHIP program, Denali KidCare, offers health care coverage to children through age 18 and also to pregnant women who meet the income eligibility guidelines. Children who are covered by other health insurance are eligible if the family gross income does not exceed 150 percent of federal poverty guideline for Alaska. Children who do not have other health insurance coverage are eligible if the gross income does not exceed 175 percent of the FPG. The income eligibility guideline for pregnant women is also 175 percent of the FPG, regardless of their health insurance status.
  
  

Other Insurance

• The primary focus of Denali KidCare is to provide health care coverage for children and pregnant women who do not have any other coverage, and the program is not intended to replace existing insurance unless a family cannot afford to continue the insurance coverage. If a family voluntarily drops its existing coverage without good reason, there is a 12-month waiting period before children in the family will be eligible to participate in Denali KidCare. The medical benefits provided through Medicaid and through Denali KidCare are the same; children who have health care coverage through Medicaid do not need to apply to Denali KidCare.
  
  

Medical Treatment

• Denali KidCare provides coverage for a range of medical treatment and prevention services. Covered services include items such as visits to a doctor, hospital care, speech and physical therapy, health checkups, dental checkups, vision care, mental health therapy, prescription drugs, laboratory tests, chiropractor and podiatrist services, substance abuse treatment and medical transportation. There is no charge for these services for most of the individuals who have Denali KidCare coverage. Those who are 18 years old may need to pay a small amount for some services.
  
  

Renewal

• Denali KidCare coverage is issued for a 12-month period. Renewal forms are mailed to families with children enrolled in Denali KidCare prior to the expiration date. If a family fails to submit a timely renewal, the family will need to reapply for Denali KidCare coverage.