Child Insurance Blog

Bush Signs Extension of Child Health-Care Program Into Law

President Bush on Saturday signed legislation that would extend a controversial children’s health insurance program, after twice denying attempts to expand its reach.

The extension of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) should provide states with funds to cover those enrolled through March 2009, the Associated Press reported. Bush and Republican legislators contend the program will cover families that currently fall into a coverage gap — earning too much to qualify for Medicaid but too little to afford private insurance.

But Democrats, with the support of some Republican legislators, were pushing hard for an expansion of the program to cover an estimated four million more children, the AP said. Their proposal, which would have added $35 billion to SCHIP coffers, was to have been paid for by an increase in the tobacco tax.

But Bush claimed that the Democrats’ plan ignored the nation’s neediest children. He also objected to the tax increase and what he described as a move toward more government-funded health care.

The current program covers about 6 million children, but Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Saturday said her party won’t stop “until 10 million children receive the health-care coverage they deserve.”

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Thanks health care industry.? It is always a pleasure doing business with you.? Now Medicaid’s spending is up for the year.? Why is this important?? Well in the CHIP program the states pay 43% of the costs and the federal government (tax payers) picks up the rest of the tab.? Lovely.

Here is an excerpt from USA Today’s article on the situation.

“Medicaid and the related Children’s Health Insurance Program are state-run health insurance plans for the poor. States pay 43% of the cost. The federal government pays the rest and sets broad rules. Medicaid pays nursing home costs for seniors who have exhausted their savings.”

According to the New York Times, the White House has denied New York state permission to provide additional health? insurance coverage to children in the state.? Essentially the state wanted to raise the income threshold level for the State Child Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) from? $51,000/year to $82,000/year for a family of four.? The White House certainly has its reasons for its actions? and New York has its reasons for disappointment.? Be sure to check out the NY Times article for more information.

As always, this is an important development for parents and specifically for those in New York.? We will continue to follow the story and provide updates as they become available.

Congress has proposed a 61 cent tax increase on the price of cigarettes aimed to fund the State Children’s Health Insurance Program.? The program is set to expire in September and currently insures 7.1 million people.? As of right now, there is a 39 cent tax on cigarettes and the proposal would move that number to $1 overall.? This proposed measure should add $50 billion dollars to the CHIP’s budget raising it to $75 billion overall.? The White House has already stated that President Bush will likely veto the bill.? This will derail six months of bipartisan negotiations that have created this proposed legislation.

What are your thoughts on this situation?? Should President Bush veto this child health insurance bill?

For further reading you can refer to The Washington Post, The New York Times, and/or The Cincinnati Post.

The Kansas City Star ran another piece regarding the debate over the renewal of child insurance legislation that is responsible for the State Children’s Health Insurance Program.? In this particular opinion piece the author believes that Bush should not stand in the way of this legislation.

What do you think?

On July 24th there was a good article about child insurance in the Kansas City Star.? It focused on Congress’s struggle with insurance for kids, in particular the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).? According to this article, 6 million children per year rely on CHIP coverage in their particular state.? The problem here is that Congressmen are undecided as to what to do with the program.? I have three children of my own and am lucky enough to have insurance, but if I didn’t then I know I would be grateful for anything the government could provide.? Take a look at the article and see what you think.? Feel free to add comments below.