On February 4, 2009, President Obama signed into law the Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 (H.R. 2) (the “Act”). The Act extends the State Children’s Heath Insurance Program (“SCHIP”) through the 2013 fiscal year and expands SCHIP to cover an estimated 4 million additional children. SCHIP provides healthcare to children who do not have insurance because their families cannot afford private insurance and who live in a household with an income above the qualifying income for Medicaid. The Act authorizes $31.5 billion for SCHIP and will be funded by an increase in the federal cigarette tax from $0.39 to $1.00. Additionally, the Act removes the current 5-year waiting period to receive coverage for children after becoming legal U.S. residents.
For the complete text of the Act, please click here.
