Thousands of Arizona children expected to lose health insurance

Funding for a program that provides health insurance for thousands of Arizona children is about to run out due to Congress’ failure to renew the program before its expiration deadline.

More than 22,000 children benefit from KidsCare, a state-run version of the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). The program receives funding through Medicaid, but without approval from Congress to continue its funding, enrollment for KidsCare will be frozen, the money used to provide current benefactors with health care will run out in a few months.

Will Humble, Executive Director for the Arizona Public Health Associates, said that the funds available might be enough to keep KidsCare running until federal funding is once again approved, but until then, the program’s future is uncertain.