Published: July 31, 2008 10:41 pm         

W.Va. expands health coverage for children

CHARLESTON — Hundreds of West Virginia children would be newly eligible for state health coverage under a plan supported by Gov. Joe Manchin.

The West Virginia Children’s Health Insurance Board on Thursday approved a financial plan that would expand coverage to families earning up to 250 percent of the federal poverty level, or roughly $53,000 for a family of four.

The plan will be submitted to the Centers of Medicaid and Medicare Services, which earlier signed off on an expansion of the program from 200 percent of the federal poverty level to 220 percent.

If it’s approved, it would take effect in January. More than 700 children without health insurance would be eligible for the plan’s coverage over the next four years.

“This is about making health care available to more West Virginia children who otherwise might fall through the cracks, and doing so within our financial ability,” Manchin said in a statement.

Currently, CHIP, which covers more than 24,000 children, is offered to those making up to 220 percent of the poverty limit, or about $44,000 for a family of four. West Virginia would be one of about six states to expand its program to cover families earning 250 percent of the poverty level.

“About 95 percent of children in West Virginia have health insurance, but we’re trying to get coverage for that other 5 percent,” said Diane Holley, spokeswoman for the Department of Administration.

According to the latest figures available from CHIP, about 19,000 West Virginia children have no insurance, and about 45 percent get their health coverage either from CHIP or Medicaid.

“This doesn’t solve our health insurance problem, but it’s a huge step in the right direction,” said Perry Bryant, executive director of West Virginians for Affordable Health Care, which had pushed for the expansion during this year’s legislative session.

Final budget figures aren’t ready for the fiscal year just concluded, but CHIP’s budget estimate was that the program would cost $50.3 million, with roughly $40.8 million coming from the federal government.