State gets approval to expand children’s health insurance
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Louisiana got federal approval Wednesday to expand its health insurance program for children.
An estimated 6,500 children in moderate-income homes become eligible for the program but their families will have to contribute to medical costs under the plan.
In addition, the children will get their insurance through the State Group Benefits program — which insures state government employees.
That is a marked departure from the current program, which is free and relies on Medicaid providers.
Kerry Weems, acting director at Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, known as CMS, announced the federal decision to approve the expansion at a State Capitol news conference Wednesday morning.
Weems said CMS agreed to expand the Louisiana Children’s Health Insurance Program to cover children in households with income up to two and a half times the federal poverty level. That is about $53,000 for a family of four.
The state and federal government share in the program costs. The federal government pays most of the costs, so any changes need CMS approval.
Today, the special Medicaid program serves children in families with income up to double the federal poverty level. That’s about $42,400 for a family of four.
There are 115,271 children currently enrolled in LaCHIP.
At the news conference, Gov. Bobby Jindal said the expansion will allow more children “to stay healthy and stay in school.”
Jindal said he wants to cover more children from moderate-income families.
He said he wants to revamp the program so that families will have more choice in insurance and health-care providers than currently available through Medicaid — the government insurance program for the poor.
The use of Group Benefits is a first step toward that diversification.
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