Mo. Health Program Reform Increases Cost for Families

More than 12,000 Missouri families saw health insurance on their children lapse this month when they failed to pay new premiums required by the state’s Children’s Health Insurance Program.

The new premiums, which range from $24 to $109 a month for a family of four, had to be received by Oct. 1 for coverage to continue, according to the Kansas City Star. A similar number of families paid the premiums, which allowed their children to remain on the taxpayer-funded insurance program.

According to the Missouri Department of Social Services, families whose coverage has lapsed who pay the premiums by Nov. 30 will have their children’s coverage reinstated on the day the payment is received without having to reapply for the program.

The new premiums are the result of a law that took effect in August, which ended coverage for several medical services, increased the cost of others and changed the rules for eligibility.

The Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) is an extension of the state’s Medicaid program that offers health coverage for children in families that earn too much to qualify for Medicaid. At the end of June, the program covered 93,730 Missouri children from families with income up to three times the federal poverty level.

The new law requires monthly premiums of 1 percent of a family’s income beginning at 151 percent of the poverty level. A family of four that earns $29,227 a year is now required to pay a premium of $24.36 a month.