Children's health insurance programs: strategies for outreach and enrollment

In tandem with Medicaid, the State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) could cover most of the 11 million uninsured children in the United States. Nearly half of children without insurance are eligible for existing Medicaid programs, and an estimated 4 million more will be eligible under new CHIP rules. The key to moving toward universal coverage for children is outreach--making sure that every child who qualifies for the programs gains access to them. This issue of States of Health discusses some of the most effective strategies for achieving that goal.