About Express Lane Eligibility Express Lane Eligibility (ELE) is a relatively simple concept. There are millions of uninsured children eligible for Medicaid and enrolled in other public programs, like school lunch or food stamps. Since they serve the same populations and families have already submitted relevant information, ELE creates connections between the programs in order help more children access affordable health coverage. Options for States The Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 (CHIPRA) provides states with new tools and flexibility for implementing ELE. In general, state Medicaid and CHIP agencies can partner with other public programs, such as school lunch, food stamps, or WIC, to conduct outreach and enrollment activities. 1 A state may also obtain and use information directly from state income tax records or returns. Under the legislation, states can: