A survey conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) and released December 8, found that 26 states (AL, AK, CA, CT, FL, ID, IA, IN, KS, LA, MD, MT, ND, NE, NM, NJ, NY, OH, OR, RI, SC, SD, TN, VA, WA, and WV) continued to expand eligibility, simplify enrollment procedures, or reduce financial barriers to enrollment for their Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) programs, largely due to Children’s Health Insurance Reauthorization Act (CHIPRA) and the ARRA.  However, the survey also found that 15 states (AZ, CA, FL, MA, MD, MO, MT, NC, NH, NY, PA, TN, UT, WA, and WI) scaled back their CHIP programs during 2009, though no state reduced eligibility and only California and Tennessee froze enrollment.  In addition, 47 states cover children in families with incomes up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL) and 24 states cover children in families earning 250 percent of the FPL or more.  Finally, the survey found that public coverage for parents is less inclusive than children’s coverage, noting that the median income for children’s eligibility is 235 percent of the FPL compared to 64 percent for parents.

Full report: A Foundation for Health Reform: Findings of a 50 State Survey (PDF | 1.29 MB)