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Study Urges Parents To Enroll Kids In W.V. CHIP Save Email Print
Posted: 10:36 AM Aug 14, 2008
Last Updated: 10:36 AM Aug 14, 2008
Reporter: Associated Press

A | A | A

Charleston, W.V. (AP) -- A new study by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation makes a strong case for enrolling more kids in state-run children's health insurance programs.

Researchers say CHIP-covered kids are three times more likely than uninsured children to visit a doctor. They're also far more likely to get regular checkups.

In West Virginia, 35,000 children with chronic conditions are covered by either CHIP or Medicaid. And 98 percent of those children have a personal physician -- far more than the uninsured.

The study released Thursday also says special-needs children with chip are twice as likely to get mental health care.

CHIP benefits families who earn too much to qualify for Medicaid, but too little to buy private insurance.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.
Posted by: Frances Location: Walker on Aug 17, 2008 at 04:32 PM
I agree that the system is messed up. I am trying to go to school and my husband is working full time and we barely meet requirements for any assistance. We are trying to better ourselves so we do not need assistance and I know people who live off it and get away with it. I know of a person who has several children so she can live off the child support and gonvernment assistance. Those are the people who need to be kicked off. Everyone should be able to get help who needs it and has worked and have invested into the system. If I pay into it I should be able to use it when needed.

Posted by: Amy Location: Parkersburg on Aug 15, 2008 at 09:05 AM
What a ridiculous study. I can't believe someone is paid a salary to tell the public that insured kids see a doctor more often than the uninsured! These programs don't help those who help themselves. My son can't afford his asthma medication because after premiums and co-pays we can't afford the $200 a month (with our insurance) to purchase it. Our income is slightly over the Medicaid limit and people who pay for insurance are not eligible for CHIPS or prescription drug assistance through the pharmaceutical companies. There is no assistance to families that are working hard, paying their way and only need some help. It is unfortunate that people must be completely reliant upon these programs in order to qualify. I would prefer my tax dollars help everyone that needs medical care.

Posted by: Charity Location: Washington, WV on Aug 14, 2008 at 06:05 PM
I agree you should enroll your children in the WVCHIP program, but if you make to much for the program and your company you work for does not offer insurance then what are you to do? I personally think that the income requirements are set to low and are not for the working family trying to make it, it is for the families that want to live off of the system. It appears to me that the system requirements are not for the families that are working to survive but for those that are not trying to work. There are more and more families divorcing and living with each other and getting everything offered by the system and those that need just a little help can not get anything. Too many people are using the system and getting by with it, if they would clean up the system there would be more for those that need a little help other than those that want to live off of it.

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