ALEXANDRIA, VA – The clock is ticking out on the wildly successful Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). With approximately 40 legislative days left until the program expires, the health and well-being of 6 million children remains at stake.
Yesterday, President Bush issued a statement urging debate around national health reform rather than children’s health. Further, he attempted to make a distinction between private sector coverage and children’s health coverage, when in fact, health care through the State Children’s Health Insurance is provided for by private health plans.
“Unfortunately, the president has tried to muddy the waters by changing the discussion to national health reform,” said Bruce Lesley, President of First Focus. “This is about our nation’s children and no partisan agenda should stand in the way of progress. In fact, the private plans that President Bush touted yesterday are the same plans that would cover children under the Children’s Health Program, and are also the same as the drug plans that senior citizens have through Medicare. It is truly a distinction without difference.”
Now, the President is offering his tax proposal as an alternative to CHIP. Unfortunately, the plan provides a tax credit of $7500 for individuals and $15,000 for families. As a result children are completely left out of the President’s plan, as the average cost of family coverage is 2.7 times that of individuals, not twice the cost.
In sharp contrast, the Children’s Health Insurance Program is a proven, successful program that has reduced the number of uninsured children by one third since its creation 10 years ago. If Congress wants to make further progress, they need to continue to build upon its success and move forward on reducing the number of uninsured children in this nation through extension of the Children’s Health Insurance Program.
“CHIP was originally passed by a Republican-led Congress and signed into law by a Democratic president,” added Lesley. “On this 10th anniversary of CHIP, it is time for a Democratic-led Congress and President Bush to forge an extension of that work by at least reducing the number of uninsured children by another one-third in the short term, with a goal of no child without health coverage. Children are one-fourth of our population but all of our future. The American people have spoken and now is the time for action.”
SCHIP has stepped in to fill the gaps for families who cannot afford or do not have access health insurance, ensuring that children are not left out in the cold as private health insurance has become less available and more expensive.
84% of Americans supported increased investments in public children’s coverage, according to a national poll conducted earlier this year. Furthermore, statewide polls in states as diverse as Utah, Massachusetts, and Georgia have all confirmed overwhelming public support.
And Governors have responded already. In fact, there are 30 states moving forward and taking a lead on children’s health. Congress needs to ensure they provide the full funding necessary to ensure they do not stand in the way of the states positive efforts to provide children with access to the doctors and health care they need.
“We all benefit when children have dependable health coverage. They are healthier, do better in school, and have a better chance to grow and succeed in life. Reliable coverage is both successful and cost-effective; allowing children to get affordable preventive care and routine treatment for conditions like asthma, diabetes, and toothaches – without coverage, those conditions can get out of control, requiring much more expensive emergency room care which we must all pay for in taxes or higher insurance premiums,” Lesley continued.