South Carolina Health Insurance Pool (SCHIP)

The South Carolina Health Insurance Pool (SCHIP) was created by the South Carolina General Assembly by Act 127 of 1989 in order to make health insurance coverage available to residents of South Carolina who are either unable to obtain health insurance because of a medical condition or whose premium for health coverage exceeds 150% of the Pool rate. Senate Bill 287, which contains the amendments to SCHIP deemed necessary to make it an acceptable alternative mechanism under the provisions of section 2744(a)(1) of the Public Health Service Act, was signed into law by the Governor on March 31, 1997.

South Carolina chose to enhance the SCHIP so that it meets the requirements of an acceptable alternative mechanism. This is known as the State Alternative Mechanism (SAM). The SCHIP coverage is not an insurance policy nor is it a Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina policy. The SCHIP coverage is administered by Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina.