The Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) is a public insurance program in the United States that provides health coverage to eligible children, through Medicaid and separate CHIP programs. CHIP is jointly funded by the federal government and states and is administered by states, according to federal requirements. The program was designed to cover uninsured children in families with incomes that are modest but too high to qualify for Medicaid. Since its inception in 1997, CHIP has been instrumental in reducing the number of uninsured children, offering comprehensive health coverage including preventative care, prescriptions, and other services at little or no cost to the families involved. While CHIP itself is not a standalone company, it is a critical part of the broader health insurance fabric in the U.S.