State Children's Health Insurance Program/Definition

(abbr. SCHIP) United States Department of Health and Human Services program that provides funding for healthcare to families with children. It is designed to cover more children than are covered by Medicaid. It was passed in 1997 and was originally championed by Senator Ted Kennedy. President George W. Bush's administration prevented expansion of the program. In February 2009, President Barack Obama extended the program to cover an additional 4 million children and pregnant women.