Children's health insurance in Ohio

The Strickland administration has asked regulators to OK a plan to expand the Ohio health insurance program.

Ohio wants to offer health insurance coverage to children in families earning up to 250% of the federal poverty level beginning April 1. Eligibility for Ohio's SCHIP program currently is capped at 200%

State officials think the expansion would draw an additional 8,168 children into the health insurance program this year and 10,750 more in 2009.

The request comes after the Bush administration rejected Ohio's request to increase eligibility to 300% of the federal poverty level.

Ohio provides health insurance coverage for about 1 million children under the Medicaid system. An estimated 77,000 children lack health care coverage.