RALEIGH -- A federal program that covers the healthcare of low income children may be in danger.

The Child Health Insurance Program (CHIP) provides federal funding to 9 million kids nationwide too old for Medicaid. However, it has been without funding since September and it takes a Congressional action to get funding approved again.

In all, 250,000 of the affected kids live in North Carolina, and North Carolina Pediatric Society Director Elizabeth Hudgins says things could turn disastrous if the program is forced to shut down.

"Before CHIP, it would be very common for children to lose health insurance at a very young age," says Hudgins. "This provides continuous health insurance."

Hudgins warns that if Congress does not approve funding for CHIP by 2018, states would need to make tough decisions about the program.

"It is urgent that Congress reauthorize CHIP in a timely fashion to make sure that this important program continues undisrupted," says Hudgins. "Families can then continue to get the healthcare they need for their children."