Senate Finance CommitteeVerified account

1. #CHIP has bipartisan support. Chairman Hatch created CHIP in the 1990s w/ former Sen. Ted Kennedy to help vulnerable children whose families didn't qualify for Medicaid but still couldn't afford health insurance.

2. #CHIP allows states to meet their unique needs. As a federal-state partnership, CHIP receives funding from both the federal government and the states. Each state runs its own program within guidelines from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

3. Every year, #CHIP helps nearly 9 million children access health care.

4. #CHIP benefits vary by state, but all states provide comprehensive coverage, including routine check-ups, prescriptions, dental and vision care, and much more.

5. In some states, #CHIP programs provide health insurance for pregnant women, too.

6. #CHIP is successful: Children enrolled in CHIP are more likely than uninsured children to have their medical needs met. And they're 25 percent more likely to get annual checkups.

7. Since #CHIP launched, the percentage of uninsured children has dropped from 15 to 5 percent.