State employees may be eligible for CHIP coverage

Children of some state employees could soon be eligible for a free health insurance program.

The federal health care bill passed by Congress in March gave states the option of making their employees' children eligible for the Children's Health Insurance Plan.

Montana health officials said Monday that the state has asked the federal government how to take advantage of the option, which had previously been unavailable.

Health insurance for state employees is subsidized by the state, but they usually have to pay extra premiums to cover family members.

Re p . Ma r y C a f e r r o , D-Helena, said...