The State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) provides health care coverage to 6 million low-income children.

Enacted in 1997, SCHIP is set to expire Sept. 30 unless Congress reauthorizes the program.

Since the children’s health program began, the number of uninsured children has dropped by one-third. But the erosion of employer-sponsored benefits has caught up with children. Since 2000, nearly 9 million workers have lost health coverage, and in 2006 the number of children without insurance rose for the second consecutive year. 
 
Children with health care are healthier than those without coverage. Children in SCHIP and Medicaid are much more likely to have had at least one well-child visit in the past year and to have lower rates of unmet health care needs, including doctor care, prescription drugs and hospital care.