In early March, the House and Senate Budget Committees will decide on funding for the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). SCHIP provides health insurance to more than six million people, mostly children whose families earn too much to qualify for Medicaid. Many analysts are saying that President Bush’s budget will not meet the needs of the program, and that 14 states will run out of money for it before the end of the fiscal year in October.
A bipartisan group of governors has appealed to the President and Congress to approve more money for SCHIP and ensure that no one currently covered loses their benefits. The Bush administration countered that states should better manage their use of SCHIP funds, and should rein in their coverage of families with incomes more than twice the poverty level. The states that cover adults (mostly parents) under SCHIP should also stop doing so. The governors argued that in areas with a high cost of living, going above twice the poverty limit is necessary, and that coverage of parents increases the chances that their children stay on the rolls.
Families USA, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization advocating high-quality, affordable health care for all Americans, has more information on the SCHIP debate. They urge people to call their Senators and Representatives next week and ask them to approve at least $60 billion in new money for the program over the next five years. (You can e-mail your members of Congress as well.)
This isn’t a substitute for overall healthcare reform, but it’s a way to make sure those who need it most—our country’s children—continue to receive the coverage and care they need.
In some places, the money will run out well before October. They’re estimating MARCH here in Georgia, maybe April if we’re lucky.