Arkansas School Health Insurance Project (ASHIP)

School-age children--the largest population group among the nation's uninsured--was the focus of a pilot insurance project developed by Arkansas Children's Hospital and offered using school districts rather than employers as the basis for an insurance pool. The project, which worked closely with the state in developing and implementing the program, developed an insurance plan focused on preventive and primary care, with options for coverage of catastrophic, inpatient, and related services. At first, the plan was targeted to school-age children only, although the project eventually plans to expand eligibility to include siblings and possibly parents.