Children who lack health insurance do not have access to preventive care, placing them at greater risk of serious illness. This special report of the Voices for Illinois Children describes federal and state efforts to address the problem of uninsured children and issues that will need to be monitored as Illinois begins to help children access health care. The report describes the development of the Children's Health Insurance Plan (CHIP) and states' requirements for participation in the plan. In addition, the report describes Illinois' two-phase approach to helping children access health care: (1) Medicaid expansion; and (2) KidCare, including eligibility, covered services, affordability, accessibility, continuous eligibility, program for insured children, and program evaluation. Characteristics of current state CHIP policies and plans are described regarding eligibility, program structure, services covered, cost-sharing, and outreach and enrollment. The report maintains that the key issues to be monitored regarding KidCare deal with parents' knowledge about the program, its affordability, and children's receipt of services. The report concludes with a table summarizing the provisions of KidCare's program for uninsured and insured children. (KB)