Parents in Wyoming shouldn't be worried about their children losing health care benefits from the State Children's Health Insurance Program any time soon, said Patti Guzman, manager of Wyoming's program.

As of early February, 5,883 Wyoming children were enrolled in Kid Care, Wyoming's version of SCHIP.

The children's health insurance program, funded partially by the federal government and administered by individual states, was debated in Congress last year.

Federal funding for state programs was set to expire Sept. 30, 2007.

Democrats and others presented bills that would have expanded coverage to more than 4 million children.

President George W. Bush vetoed two SCHIP bills that would expand the program.

In December, Bush signed a resolution that extended the existing program through March 2009.

Guzman said she foresees the government re-authorizing - or at least extending - the program in 2009.

"Everything I have heard from our counterparts in other states, (is) there is still a lot of interest in SCHIP," Guzman said.

She doesn't think the government - which will be led by a new president in January - would let millions of children enrolled in state insurance programs go without health insurance.

"Depending on what party gets in, it could make a huge difference," Guzman said.

Candidates from both parties are making it a priority, though, Guzman said. She remains unsure of how much money states will receive.

Until March 2009, Guzman said they plan to run the program as is.

If things do go awry, Guzman said they have the ability to freeze enrollment in the program. But she doesn't see this occurring.

Even though they are constantly finding new kids to enroll in the program, numbers haven't increased significantly.

Anywhere from 25 to 100 Wyoming kids join the program every month, but almost as many lose coverage at the same time. Either kids turn 19, income levels change or a parent simply doesn't fill out the annual renewal form, she said.

Contact health reporter Allison Rupp at (307) 266-0534 or allison.rupp@trib.com.