Jimmy Kimmel makes heart-wrenching plea to save CHIP

HHS: Funding may last through February 2018

SAN ANTONIO – Late night host Jimmy Kimmel used his national platform to speak on behalf of the nation’s 9 million families who rely on the Children’s Health Insurance Program, or CHIP.

A pediatrician with the University Health System and a family at the Children’s Hospital of San Antonio laughed, then listened, as Kimmel delivered his opening monologue Monday evening. Kimmel was holding his infant son Billy, who underwent open heart surgery last week. 

“Very, very powerful,” said Dr. Ryan Van Ramshorst, who is also a fellow in academic general pediatrics at UT Health San Antonio. “Who better to understand the importance of health insurance for kids like this?”

After Congress failed to reauthorize the program, despite long-standing bipartisan support, its funding ended Sept. 30. Now states are quickly running out of what remains of their CHIP funds. 

On its website, the Texas Department of Health and Human Services said the money may last through February, but some child health advocates said they worry it could run out at the end of January if Congress doesn’t act. Others have said a five-year extension is possible by the end of December.

“I don’t know what could be more disgusting than putting a tax cut that mostly goes to rich people ahead of the lives of children,” Kimmel told his live audience.

“I think it’s terrible what they’re doing,” said Kimberly Smith, whose two children were covered by CHIP until they qualified for Medicaid.

Smith said she agrees with Kimmel that children should come first.

“They’re our future,” she said.

Smith also picked up on what the comedian said about CHIP being “literally a life and death program for American kids.” She said without it, when her mentally disabled son was a child, “I would have lost him.”

Smith said knowing the program remains in jeopardy is scary.

“Then where do they get their insurance from and how do they treat their kids that need to be treated,? Smith said.

Van Ramshorst said many of the families he treats are worried.

“’What’s going to happen with my children’s insurance?’ It’s a really hard question to answer,” he said. “My concern is that kids are going to start to go without the care they need.”

Van Ramshorst said the parents are low-income working people who may have to choose between food, rent and their child’s medical needs.

“If CHIP goes away, they’re going to lose that access to a physician,” Van Ramshorst said.

Near the end of his monologue, Kimmel urged his viewers to call their members of Congress.

“The Jimmy Kimmels of the world are critically important, but so is everybody else,” Van Ramshorst said.

Van Ramshorst said as a result of Monday night’s monologue, it’s been proposed that the American Academy of Pediatrics make Kimmel an honorary member for his advocacy.

WATCH KIMMEL'S MONOLOGUE HERE.


About the Author:

Jessie Degollado has been with KSAT since 1984. She is a general assignments reporter who covers a wide variety of stories. Raised in Laredo and as an anchor/reporter at KRGV in the Rio Grande Valley, Jessie is especially familiar with border and immigration issues. In 2007, Jessie also was inducted into the San Antonio Women's Hall of Fame.