The Children's Health Insurance Program
(CHIP) is one of a number of federally financed programs
that provide benefits to low-income working
families in the greater Washington area. The program
was enacted October 1, 1997, as Title XXI of the Social
Security Act. By October 1998, the program was
implemented throughout the greater Washington area.
During its first year of operation in Washington, D.C.
and the surrounding areas, the program provided
health insurance to more than 13,000 previously uninsured
children.