http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/politics/state/stories/113004dntexchip.2297c.htmlAUSTIN – Texas' new wealth restrictions for poor families caused nearly 900 low-income children to be denied health care in the rules' first two months, according to the state.
Critics of cuts to the Children's Health Insurance Program also say confusion about the new thresholds for a family's cash and car value has delayed the applications for thousands of children.
"They're just making it real hard for families," said Patti Everitt, executive director of the Children's Defense Fund of Texas
Under the new rule, as families apply for CHIP or come up for renewal each six months, they are supposed to be denied coverage if their incomes exceed 150 percent of the federal poverty level ($23,505 for a family of three) and they own more than $5,000 in specified assets. Some educational and retirement savings are exempt, but affected families can't have more than $5,000 in cash or in checking or savings accounts. Their first car can't be worth more than $15,000, and any other cars they own can't exceed $4,650 in value.