Help in the Reauthorization of SCHIP!
July 10, 2007 by Richard Bucciarelli | one question or comment
Of critical importance is that SCHIP is scheduled to expire on September 30, 2007, unless it is reauthorized by the 110th Congress. If Congress renews and fully funds SCHIP, up to 6 million more children will gain access to health care coverage, bringing our nation closer to the goal of providing quality health care to all of our nations’ children. If it is not reauthorized, the number of uninsured American children could swell to over 15 million.
Earlier this year, several concerned members of Congress pledged, in a bipartisan effort, $50 billion ($10 billion a year for 5 years) to reauthorize SCHIP and to address many of the critical issues facing the Medicaid program. With this level of support, our nation can ensure that those children currently in SCHIP and Medicaid and those eligible for the programs are enrolled and receive appropriate medical care. With the reauthorization of SCHIP, we can cover over 12 million children and reduce the number of uninsured children to the lowest number seen in over three decades.
Now, $50 billion sounds like a lot of money, but from a societal perspective, what better investment do we have than the health of our children? Children who have insurance and access to medical care are 15 times more likely to have a regular physician, 10 times less likely to experience delays in necessary care, and 5 times more likely to see a dentist within 2 years.
In Florida, there are still 720,000 uninsured children. Reauthorization of SCHIP would bring an additional $2.54 billion in federal funds to Florida, cover an additional 480,000 children, and provide more than 13,000 new jobs!
In California, an additional 900,000 children would receive coverage, and 29,000 new jobs would be created. In New York, over 300,000 more children would be covered, and 15,000 new jobs would be created. Wouldn’t you agree that this is a great return on an investment in the future of our nation, plus an asset to our economy?
So I urge you to contact members of your congressional delegation today and urge them to reauthorize SCHIP and fully fund this valuable program.
For more information contact Families USA or the American Academy of Pediatrics.
This week Members of Congress will decide the fate of children’s health. They are poised to reauthorize the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), a program providing health coverage to over 6 million low-income children.
Despite its success and broad bipartisan support, the SCHIP program is under attack. The President has issued a veto threat and some Members plan to offer amendments that will weaken SCHIP and deny millions of children health insurance.
It is crucial that you call your Senators and Representative toll-free TODAY and urge them to support SCHIP. Without strong bipartisan votes in the House and Senate the program will expire in 62 days, leaving millions of children uninsured.
Your calls can send a strong message both protecting the children currently enrolled and allowing millions more eligible children to get coverage.
CALL 800-828-0498 TODAY!
Senate Message: “I’m a constituent of Senator _____. Please tell him/her to vote YES on children’s health and NO on all amendments that restrict children’s eligibility for health coverage.”
House Message: “I’m a constituent of Rep. ________. Please tell him/her to vote for the CHAMP Act (HR 3162) on the Floor.
It is critical that Congress hears from you and that both Bills pass the House and the Senate by a wide margin. This is the only way SCHIP can withstand a Presidential veto.
Children can’t vote, so they are relying on you to do it for them.