CHIP Coverage Comparable To Private Health Plans, But With Lower Consumer Out-Of-Pocket Costs

Health services covered by Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) plans are generally comparable to private qualified health plans (QHPs) available through state or federally-run health insurance marketplaces, but consumer costs are lower for CHIP plans than for QHPs. Consumer costs include deductibles, copayments, coinsurance, and premiums. Even after applying QHP premium subsidies authorized under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), consumer costs were still lower for CHIP enrollees. Out-of-pocket maximum costs were typically less in the CHIP plans.

These findings are from a study of selected CHIP and private QHPs in five states: Colorado . . .