 August 5, 2017 marked the 20th anniversary of the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). The program is a Federal-State partnership that has provided health coverage to children who may not otherwise be able to afford coverage.
CHIP was part of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997. The program provides health coverage for the children and teens of working parents. In some states, it also covers pregnant women. By the year 2000, every US State, territory, and the District of Columbia had a Children’s Health Insurance Program.
Before CHIP, 10 million children and teens lived without health insurance. Their families had incomes too high to qualify for Medicaid and private insurance was not accessible. In 2012, the 10 million uninsured kids and teens decreased to 5 million, and in 2015, the number decreased to 3.3 million.
Currently, during the course of a year, 9 million children enroll in CHIP nationwide.
Kid Care CHIP started in 1999 in Wyoming . CHIP covers thousands of Wyoming kids and teens every year.
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Get Creative, Feel Better!
 Feeling sick? Exploring your artistic side may help you feel better. An article in the American Journal of Public Health has reviewed several studies that reveal the arts as an important part of healing. Arts may lower anxiety, help control pain and give patients a healthy distraction to take their mind off feeling bad.
Try some of these methods to brighten up your sick day:
• Hang up art in your home that makes you feel good
• Paint, draw or sculpt
• Try creative movement like dance or tai chi
• Play an instrument or listen to music
• Jot down a story or explore journaling
• Act in or write a play
Enjoy yourself and don’t get discouraged. The more art you make, the better you will get!
Source: Stuckey HI, Nobel J. (2010, Feb.) The connection between art, healing and public health: a review of current literature. American Journal of Public Health.
Sick Day Activity Resources
Check out these websites for great activities to keep your sick child engaged:
Red Tricycle
redtri.com/low-energy-activities-for-sick-days
Parenting
www.parenting.com/gallery/indoor-activities-kids
Pinterest
www.pinterest.com/coldeeze/sick-day-crafts-diy
EPSDT: A Health Risk Assessment
 Early and periodic screening, diagnosis, and treatment (EPSDT) office visits are key to your child’s overall health. Each year, children between the ages of 2 and 19 should be visiting with their doctor to complete a health risk assessment.
During this visit, your child should expect to have a comprehensive exam including both physical and mental health. Your doctor may also complete routine immunizations, vision, and hearing tests. This is also a great time for you as a parent to ask questions relating to your child’s development, behavioral, and nutrition just to name a few. Many of these screenings are covered under your plan with no out of pocket cost to you.
For more information regarding your child’s benefits, you can refer to your Kid Care CHIP Handbook or call the 1-800 number listed on the back of your Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wyoming insurance card.
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How Can We Help YOU?
Do you have an event coming up? Do you need a service project for school? Do you interact with a lot of families?
Kid Care CHIP will provide you with information, strategies, and materials to share with your community. For more details, please contact us at kidcarechip@wyo.gov.
We look forward to hearing from you!
 Kid Care CHIP at the Back to School Bash in Cheyenne
Adolescent Health Survey for Parents
 Attention parents of adolescents and young adults (AYAs) ages 10 to 26. Please take a moment and complete the Wyoming Dept. of Health's Adolescent and Young Adult Health Survey. Your response and unique perspective will help us make wellness visits better for this group.
Have more than one AYA? Please take one survey per each AYA.
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Time to Renew?
Kid Care CHIP coverage must be renewed every year.
Renew over the phone: 855-294-2127
Not sure when to renew?
Please e-mail kidcarechip@wyo.gov
Contact Kid Care CHIP
For health, pharmacy and vision benefit questions, call Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wyoming: 1-800-209-9720
For dental benefit questions, contact Delta Dental of Wyoming: 1-800-735-3379
For other questions, e-mail kidcarechip@wyo.gov
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