S. 453 – CHIPPER Act | Legislate.dev

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Updated February 7, 2026 at 11:15 PM UTC

The CHIPPER Act expands the federal matching rate (enhanced FMAP) for State Children’s Health Insurance Programs (CHIP) during the COVID‑19 emergency and sets conditions states must meet to receive the boost. It extends the increased FMAP period through September 30 2022 and ties the funding to state actions such as keeping premiums low, covering COVID‑19 testing and vaccines without cost‑sharing, eliminating waiting periods, and actively re‑enrolling eligible children. The bill affects state CHIP programs and the families they serve.

Key Provisions

Extends the enhanced FMAP increase for CHIP to September 30 2022.
States lose the FMAP boost for any quarter if they raise premiums above January 1 2020 levels.
Requires states to keep children enrolled as of enactment (or newly enrolled) eligible for benefits through the end of the emergency period unless they voluntarily terminate or move out of state.
Mandates that states cover COVID‑19 testing, vaccines, equipment, and therapies under CHIP without cost‑sharing.
Prohibits states from imposing waiting periods for low‑income children to receive CHIP benefits.
Requires states to actively identify and re‑enroll children who are eligible for CHIP but have lapsed.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Finance Committee

February 25, 2021

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

February 25, 2021

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Finance Committee

February 25, 2021

Bill Text

Latest available legislative text

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Introduced in SenateIssued February 25, 2021

II

117th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 453

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

February 25, 2021

Mr. Casey (for himself and Mr. Van Hollen) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance

A BILL

To increase support for State Children's Health Insurance programs during the COVID–19 emergency, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Children’s Health Insurance Program Pandemic Enhancement and Relief Act or the CHIPPER Act.

2.

Increasing the CHIP enhanced FMAP to help States respond to the COVID–19 pandemic

Section 2105(b) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1397ee(b)) is amended—

(1)

by striking For purposes of subsection (a), and inserting the following:

(1)

In general

For purposes of subsection (a),

;

(2)

in the second sentence—

(A)

by inserting , subject to paragraph (2), after 23 percentage points, and; and

(B)

by striking September 30, 2020 and inserting September 30, 2022; and

(3)

by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

(2)

Requirements

During the period that begins on October 1, 2020, and ends on September 30, 2022, a State shall not receive the increase described in the second sentence of paragraph (1) to the enhanced FMAP for such State, with respect to a quarter that occurs during such period, if—

(A)

the amount of any premium imposed by the State under the State child health plan (or a waiver of such plan) during such quarter, with respect to an individual enrolled under such plan (or waiver), exceeds the amount of such premium as of January 1, 2020;

(B)

the State fails to provide that an individual who is enrolled for benefits under such plan (or waiver) as of the date of enactment of this paragraph or enrolls for benefits under such plan (or waiver) during the period beginning on such date of enactment and ending on the last day of the month in which the emergency period defined in paragraph (1)(B) of section 1135(g) ends shall be treated as eligible for such benefits through the end of the month in which such emergency period ends unless the individual requests a voluntary termination of eligibility or the individual ceases to be a resident of the State;

(C)

the State does not provide coverage under such plan (or waiver), without the imposition of cost sharing, during such quarter for any testing services and treatments for COVID–19, including vaccines, specialized equipment, and therapies;

(D)

the State imposes a waiting period under the State child health plan prior to the provision of child health assistance to a targeted low-income child; or

(E)

the State fails to take active measures (as determined by the Secretary) to identify and re-enroll children who are eligible for child health assistance under the State plan and who were previously enrolled in such plan.

.