Columns
October Column
Oct 15 2007
If you have been watching the debate surrounding the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), you have probably noticed that the Washington spin factor is out of control. Given all the commentary, it’s a wonder that anyone understands what the bill actually does. There are rumors this bill provides free government health care to illegal immigrants, taxpayer funded abortions, subsidized health care to high-income families or health care for “children” up to age 25. These rumors are simply not true – if they were, I would not have supported the bill.
First, a little background: SCHIP provides health care to low-income children whose families would otherwise be unable to afford coverage. The bill overwhelmingly approved by Congress focuses on getting health coverage to children who currently qualify for the SCHIP program, but are not enrolled because of the lack of resources in the program.
As a member of the Senate Finance Committee which actually wrote this bill, let me try to set the record straight.
Myth: This bill provides government health care to families with incomes as high as $83,000.
Fact: This bill does not grant SCHIP coverage to children whose families have incomes over $40,000. In fact, the only way a state can cover children in families at higher income levels is if the administration grants approval for the state to do so. This is already current law, and this bill does not change that. This means that those states who are currently covering families with incomes as high as $70,000 are doing so not through congressional approval, but through waivers by the administration. However, this bill for the first time puts tough standards into place to ensure states are truly focusing their programs on low-income children.
Unfortunately, if current law remains in place, states actually have greater incentives to cover higher income populations and will continue to get a higher federal payments to do so. This means there would be no checks in place to stop future administrations from easily granting waivers to states to cover higher income families. This truly could mean a step towards national health care.
Myth: This bill provides SCHIP coverage to “children” up to age 25.
Fact: This bill only covers children aged 18 or younger. This is current law and this bill does not change that. More importantly, this bill actually fixes the problem created by this administration which granted waivers to states to cover adults under this program meant for low-income children. Unfortunately, under this administration’s watch, we now have 14 states that cover adults under their SCHIP programs. And, many of these adults do not have any children. More disturbing is that several of these states actually spend more of their SCHIP money on adults than they do children. This bill puts an end to this problem.
Myth: This bill will encourage families to drop their private health insurance in favor of SCHIP.
Fact: This bill takes the necessary steps to encourage further private market participation in the SCHIP program. It builds on the current private structure, better allowing states to provide health insurance to children through the private market. Most importantly, the Congressional Budget Office estimates that two-thirds of the children who will gain access to health coverage under this bill are currently uninsured - not children who will be dropping their private health care to enroll in SCHIP.
As a result of these important provisions, America’s Health Insurance Plans - which represents over 1,300 private health insurance plans nationwide - endorsed this bill. This is in addition to every major medical association, state governors and child advocacy groups.
I truly hope all sides can take a step back and realize what is at stake for our children. This is a good bill and it will provide health insurance to children who would otherwise have no access to health care.
If you would like to know more about issues before the Senate, please visit my Web site at https://www.roberts.senate.gov . For regular updates, be sure to sign up on my home page for a monthly e-newsletter, The Roberts Report.
First, a little background: SCHIP provides health care to low-income children whose families would otherwise be unable to afford coverage. The bill overwhelmingly approved by Congress focuses on getting health coverage to children who currently qualify for the SCHIP program, but are not enrolled because of the lack of resources in the program.
As a member of the Senate Finance Committee which actually wrote this bill, let me try to set the record straight.
Myth: This bill provides government health care to families with incomes as high as $83,000.
Fact: This bill does not grant SCHIP coverage to children whose families have incomes over $40,000. In fact, the only way a state can cover children in families at higher income levels is if the administration grants approval for the state to do so. This is already current law, and this bill does not change that. This means that those states who are currently covering families with incomes as high as $70,000 are doing so not through congressional approval, but through waivers by the administration. However, this bill for the first time puts tough standards into place to ensure states are truly focusing their programs on low-income children.
Unfortunately, if current law remains in place, states actually have greater incentives to cover higher income populations and will continue to get a higher federal payments to do so. This means there would be no checks in place to stop future administrations from easily granting waivers to states to cover higher income families. This truly could mean a step towards national health care.
Myth: This bill provides SCHIP coverage to “children” up to age 25.
Fact: This bill only covers children aged 18 or younger. This is current law and this bill does not change that. More importantly, this bill actually fixes the problem created by this administration which granted waivers to states to cover adults under this program meant for low-income children. Unfortunately, under this administration’s watch, we now have 14 states that cover adults under their SCHIP programs. And, many of these adults do not have any children. More disturbing is that several of these states actually spend more of their SCHIP money on adults than they do children. This bill puts an end to this problem.
Myth: This bill will encourage families to drop their private health insurance in favor of SCHIP.
Fact: This bill takes the necessary steps to encourage further private market participation in the SCHIP program. It builds on the current private structure, better allowing states to provide health insurance to children through the private market. Most importantly, the Congressional Budget Office estimates that two-thirds of the children who will gain access to health coverage under this bill are currently uninsured - not children who will be dropping their private health care to enroll in SCHIP.
As a result of these important provisions, America’s Health Insurance Plans - which represents over 1,300 private health insurance plans nationwide - endorsed this bill. This is in addition to every major medical association, state governors and child advocacy groups.
I truly hope all sides can take a step back and realize what is at stake for our children. This is a good bill and it will provide health insurance to children who would otherwise have no access to health care.
If you would like to know more about issues before the Senate, please visit my Web site at https://www.roberts.senate.gov . For regular updates, be sure to sign up on my home page for a monthly e-newsletter, The Roberts Report.
