The State Children's Health Insurance Program, known as SCHIP, was created in 1997 to insure children in families with too much income to qualify for Medicaid and too little to afford private insurance.

With SCHIP, jointly financed by federal and state governments, states maintain a fair amount of flexibility in determining eligibility, program design, and payment levels. Some states have used this flexibility to insure low-income parents.

SCHIP, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, is up for congressional reauthorization. Contentious issues such as expanded eligibility will surely factor in that debate. Panelists will discuss one potential sticking point: whether SCHIP should be used to cover parents of low-income children.

Speakers:

• Genevieve Kenney, Principal Research Associate, Urban Institute
• Ann Kohler, Deputy Commissioner, New Jersey Department of Human Services
• Cindy Mann, Research Professor, Georgetown University Health Policy Institute
• Nina Owcharenko, Senior Policy Analyst, Heritage Foundation
• Moderator: Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, staff writer, Los Angeles Times