Poll - Children and Health ReformNew First Focus polling reveals overwhelming support for ensuring all children in America are covered as part of health care reform, even if it increases their taxes. The poll also shows strong support for ensuring that children are provided comprehensive benefits as Congress reforms our health care system, such as through Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

Leading Members of Congress came out in strong support of the poll’s findings and of covering all children.

Senator Jay Rockefeller (WV): “Comprehensive health care coverage for children should be non-negotiable,” said Senator Rockefeller, Chairman of the Senate Finance Subcommittee on Health Care. “Today, millions of children receive the check-ups and preventive exams they need only because of Medicaid and CHIP – federal programs that work. We should not experiment with the stable health care coverage children have today by exposing them to coverage in the Exchange that may have higher cost-sharing for families and provide far fewer benefits for children.”

Senator Robert Casey (PA): “Protecting health care for children has been one of my top priorities in the health care reform debate and this poll makes clear that it is also a priority for the American people,” said Senator Casey. “As the debate moves forward in Congress, I hope that all members will listen to their constituents on the need to do no harm to children.”

Senator Robert Menendez (NJ): “All of our children should be given a chance to fulfill their potential, and that means ensuring they are healthy as they develop,” said Menendez. “As this poll shows, the vast majority of Americans agree with that sentiment. It is a priority for many of us in the health insurance reform process that we ensure no child in the greatest nation on earth goes to bed at night without health care coverage.”

Senator Sherrod Brown (OH): “No goal in health insurance reform is more important than making sure every child has the comprehensive coverage they need. Children who are covered under Medicaid and SCHIP must be guaranteed the proven benefits package they have today, and we must clear out the red tape that keeps uninsured children from gaining access to these crucial public health programs.”

Rep. Diane DeGette (CO): “As this poll shows, the public supports ensuring that all children have access to quality, affordable health care,” said U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO), Vice Chair of the Committee on Energy and Commerce. “Children have unique developmental needs that we must consider as we move forward with health insurance reform legislation. That is why I offered an amendment to the America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009, which would evaluate the coverage for children under the new health insurance reform plan and ensure that children who currently receive coverage through the Children’s Health Insurance Program will continue to at least receive comparable coverage.”

Funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation made this poll possible.