Talking points

• The bill would add $35 billion to the program over the next five years to cover approximately 10 million children: 6.6 million children who are currently enrolled and 4 million who will be uninsured without this bill. The majority of the children who will gain coverage under this bill are already eligible for coverage today, but CHIP needs more money to cover them.
• Better allocate funding to states to cover uninsured children and help avoid funding shortfalls that prevent children from receiving coverage.
• Give states new tools to reach out to eligible uninsured children and get them enrolled.
• Strengthen the CHIP benefit package by guaranteeing dental health and mental health benefits.