New York, New Jersey and Hawaii Most Generous

Least Generous are North Dakota, Maine and Oklahoma

SAN JOSE, Calif., Dec. 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Where you live in the U. S. makes a big difference in the level of health coverage assistance your children can receive from government-sponsored programs, according to the Foundation for Health Coverage Education (FHCE).  Responding to reports that 1 in 6 children in the U.S. is uninsured, the non-profit (www.CoverageForAll.org), whose mission is to educate the uninsured, has ranked states by their Children's Health Insurance Programs' maximum income limits that would allow their children to be eligible for free or low-cost coverage.

"The good news is that, by law, there is a CHIP program in every state. What we've found is most families are surprised at the income level they can make - as much as $78,000 annually in New Jersey - and still qualify their children," said Phil Lebherz, founder and executive director.  "Unfortunately, because each state's CHIP program has income limits that vary, it's difficult for families to know that, in times of need, their children could qualify for this comprehensive coverage." To remedy this situation, FHCE created a five-question Health Coverage Eligibility Quiz on its CoverageForAll.org website, where, in minutes, families can learn if they are eligible for public coverage in their state.

To identify all 50 states' eligibility levels, the nonprofit ranked them in order of each state's maximum annual income limit a family of four can make and still qualify for free or low-cost CHIP coverage. The following ranking is by highest to lowest allowable income.

Families with incomes that exceed their state's Medicaid program eligibility requirements are urged to check eligibility for their state's Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Each state, including Washington D.C., is required by law to have a CHIP program to accommodate these families with slightly higher income levels by offering coverage for free or at a low-cost.

"Our data collection indicates that more than half the states currently have CHIP programs with maximum income limits over the recently reported average family income of $49,500 a year. What this could mean is families with uninsured children in these states may be eligible for free or low-cost comprehensive health coverage and not know it," said Lebherz.

To check a child's eligibility for Medicaid, CHIP, and other underutilized public programs, visit FHCE's website, www.CoverageForAll.org, and take the Health Coverage Eligibility Quiz.

About FHCE

The Foundation for Health Coverage Education (FHCE) is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization with the mission to simplify public and private health insurance eligibility information in order for more people to access coverage. In addition to its U.S. Uninsured Help Line 800-234-1317 and website, www.CoverageForAll.org, FHCE offers printed health coverage materials, such as the Health Care Options Matrix, available for all 50 states.

SOURCE Foundation for Health Coverage Education

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http://www.CoverageForAll.org