In addition, the waiver does not allow exceptions for families who lose their private insurance coverage because the premiums have become unaffordable. That is happening a lot lately: between 2000 and 2005, health insurance premiums for family coverage increased by 44 percent or an annual premium of $10,617. CHIP-eligible families of four earn between $21,200 and 42,400 per year.

Twenty-seven states have a waiting period for their CHIP programs, but nine of these states have created a "too expensive" exception to their waiting periods that allow privately insured families to enroll immediately in CHIP if their premium cost-sharing obligations, including co-pays, exceed 5 percent of their income.

Utah is in a lead position on making some real strides in improving health care, but in this instance Utah needs to follow, Nehring said.

"When families hit this limit they should be allowed to immediately enroll their kids in CHIP — no questions asked," Nehring said. "Without such an exception we will defeat one of the core purposes of reforms — to bring uninsured families into cost-effective coverage and to reduce the amount of uncompensated care."

The health department is submitting the waiver request in about a month. Prior to that, it is holding a public hearing on the proposal July 29 from 4 to 6 p.m. in Room 125 of the Cannon Health Building, 288 North 1460 West. All comments will be submitted to the Centers on Medicare & Medicaid Services, which has final say on the request.

The full waiver as well as the project's fact sheet about the proposal are available at utahhealthpolicyproject.org.

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E-mail: jthalman@desnews.com