About CHI of Greater L.A.

The Children's Health Initiative (CHI) of Greater Los Angeles is a public-private coalition seeking to keep kids healthy and ensure that every child has access to health care coverage. The CHI convened in May 2003 by L.A. Care Health Plan, The California Endowment, and the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services. The Coalition is comprised of over 50 organizations including healthcare providers, private employers, business leaders, advocacy groups, foundations, public health officials, labor unions and educators. The CHI's approach to expanding health care coverage has three components:

  • Increase enrollment of children in public programs Medi-Cal and Healthy Families.
  • Provide a three-year expansion of the Healthy Kids product to children ages 6-18.
  • Pursue policy solutions to sustain affordable health coverage for children over time.

In April 2004, the Coalition launched a three-year expansion of the Healthy Kids program to children ages 6-18. The coverage program offers low-cost health, dental and vision coverage to children ineligible for public programs due to family income, at or below 300% of the federal poverty level, or immigration status. Healthy Kids began in July 2003 targeting children from birth to age five as a five-year effort funded by First 5 LA, a local commission established by the 1998 Proposition 10 cigarette tax measure. The CHI achieved its three-year commitment guaranteeing coverage to existing Healthy Kids members in March 2007.

Both the Healthy Kids 0-5 and 6-18 programs have been extended far beyond their original targets. First 5 LA has approved funding for enrollment of children from birth to age 5 for an additional five years through June 2015. Additionally, the CHI has secured funding to extend the program to existing members ages 6-18 for at least six months beyond July 2010.

More than $160 million has been raised to date to cover Healthy Kids premiums. These donors include: First 5 LA, L.A. Care Health Plan, The California Endowment, Blue Shield of California Foundation, Centinela Medical Care Fund, QueensCare, Weingart Foundation, and the California Community Foundation.

Updated: 6/10