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Senator Implores Colleagues: Extend CHIP

401(K) 2013/Creative Commons

U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer is urging his colleagues in Congress to pass legislation that would extend the Children’s Health Insurance Program until 2019. 

Schumer made his pitch on a Wednesday conference call with reporters, arguing that nearly 275,000 New York children are currently in jeopardy.

During the call, Schumer revealed the number of CHIP participants—which are enrolled through New York State’s predominantly federally-funded Child Health Plus program—in each New York State region and county. Currently, there are approximately 274,814 total Child Health Plus enrollees throughout New York State, 116,607 of whom—roughly 42 percent—are located throughout Upstate New York.

 

•         In the Capital Region, there are an estimated 16,273 total children enrolled in New York’s Child Health Plus program.

•         In Central New York, there are an estimated 15,581 total children enrolled in New York’s Child Health Plus program.

•         In Western New York, there are an estimated 14,475 total children enrolled in New York’s Child Health Plus program.

•         In Rochester-Finger Lakes, there are an estimated 16,670 total children enrolled in New York’s Child Health Plus program.

•         In the Southern Tier, there are an estimated 8,726 total children enrolled in New York’s Child Health Plus program.

•         In the Hudson Valley, there are an estimated 37,100 total children enrolled in New York’s Child Health Plus program.

•         In the North Country, there are an estimated 7,782 total children enrolled in New York’s Child Health Plus program.

•         On Long Island, there are an estimated 57,977 total children enrolled in New York’s Child Health Plus program.

 

Schumer warns that without Congressional action, CHIP will expire in September: middle class families paying less than $9 a month for health plans for their kids could see premiums hiked ranging from $50-$400.

Dave Lucas is WAMC’s Capital Region Bureau Chief. Born and raised in Albany, he’s been involved in nearly every aspect of local radio since 1981. Before joining WAMC, Dave was a reporter and anchor at WGY in Schenectady. Prior to that he hosted talk shows on WYJB and WROW, including the 1999 series of overnight radio broadcasts tracking the JonBenet Ramsey murder case with a cast of callers and characters from all over the world via the internet. In 2012, Dave received a Communicator Award of Distinction for his WAMC news story "Fail: The NYS Flood Panel," which explores whether the damage from Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee could have been prevented or at least curbed. Dave began his radio career as a “morning personality” at WABY in Albany.
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