The government-funded program, which provides low-cost insurance for children whose families earn too much for Medicaid but still struggle to afford coverage, currently bases eligibility on whether a family earns under 250% of the federal poverty level from 2008.
Yes, 2008 — 18 years ago.
At that time, the federal poverty level for a family of four was $21,200 a year. In 2026, it’s about $33,000.
Over the years, lawmakers have applied temporary fixes to address the gap, but a bill that recently passed the Kansas Senate 40–0 and cleared the House 119–0 would permanently eliminate the outdated benchmark. Instead, eligibility would be based on 250% of the current federal poverty level.
That change would raise the income limit for a family of four from about $53,000 to roughly $82,500.
As of March 2026, more than 57,000 Kansans were enrolled in CHIP and about 15,000 more were covered through a Medicare-CHIP hybrid program. Nationally, a majority of children rely on CHIP or Medicaid at some point before turning 18.
Supporters say the update is long overdue.
Similar legislation has been introduced since 2022 but repeatedly stalled before reaching a final vote. Advocates say the challenge this year is ensuring the measure finally makes it across the finish line.
They argue the change is a commonsense fix backed by data showing children with consistent health coverage have better school attendance, are more engaged in learning, and arrive at school better prepared to succeed.
CHIP is funded jointly by the federal government and the state and operates in Kansas under the KanCare system.