Crenshaw: Healthcare Coverage for Every Eligible American Child

Press Release

Crenshaw: Healthcare Coverage for Every Eligible American Child

Today, the House passed H.R. 2 the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization, 289 to 139.

Rep. Crenshaw said, "Every American child should have access to affordable basic health insurance. The State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) has been successful in providing coverage to children from low-income families, and it deserves to be extended so that it can continue fulfilling that purpose."

In 1997 Republicans and Democrats worked together to create the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) that ensures that every American child has access to basic health insurance. Today, SCHIP is a federal-state partnership that is intended to help children from low income families, who do not qualify for Medicaid, to get the health care coverage they need.

The legislation passed by the House today asks states to expand their SCHIP program to enroll higher income families before serving already eligible poor and low-income children who are already eligible for the program, but are not yet enrolled. The reauthorization legislation does not include a cap on income for purposes of eligibility, thereby permitting states to enroll families with incomes over $80,000. Finally, the reauthorization funds the expansion by placing the burden on a dwindling revenue source - cigarettes, as the number of Americans who smoke continues to decline.

"Instead of addressing the needs of those most vulnerable in our nation, the House passed a bill that focuses allowing adults, illegal immigrants, and those already privately insured to enroll in the program. I have long advocated for a more responsible approach to this health care challenge. That's why I am an original cosponsor of an alternative measure, H.R. 464, The More Children, More Choices Act, which refocuses this program on its intended recipients - uninsured, poor children," added Crenshaw.

More Children, More Choices also offers tax credits or vouchers, in the amount of $1,400, for families who meet SCHIP requirements and whose income is between 200-300% of the federal poverty level. These tax credits would allow families to purchase the coverage that best fits their situation, as opposed to the SCHIP government chosen policies.

"SCHIP must serve poor children first. I did not vote for H.R. 2 because America's poorest children deserve the promise of affordable basic health insurance and today's irresponsible expansion of this worthwhile program represents a broken promise to those most in need," concluded Rep. Crenshaw.

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