Children's Health Insurance Measure Approved

Press Release

Children's Health Insurance Measure Approved

Congressman Alan B. Mollohan voted with a majority of his colleagues this afternoon to reauthorize and expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). The 290-135 vote in the House of Representatives cleared the measure for the President, who said he would sign it later today.

“No parent in the United States should have to choose between paying a child's medical bill and making a rent payment or sending this month's check to the electric company,” Mollohan said. “Today's vote will continue coverage for more than 35,000 children in West Virginia and extend coverage to an additional 19,000 children in our state who are already eligible but not enrolled in the program.”

SCHIP provides health care coverage to children in families whose income is too low to afford their own insurance but too high to be eligible for Medicaid. The legislation passed today reauthorizes the program through fiscal year 2013. Nationally, it will preserve coverage for the more than 7 million children already covered and bring an additional 4.1 million uninsured children into the program.

“Every day we read about more corporate lay-offs and rising unemployment,” Mollohan said. “Every day more and more Americans ask themselves how they'll be able to keep their families insured. This program is an important part of the answer.” Mollohan added that the economic stimulus package still being debated in the Senate would also help Americans maintain health coverage by increasing funding for Medicaid and making it easier for laid-off workers to extend their health coverage under COBRA.

The legislation has been endorsed by the National Federation of Independent Businesses, the American Hospital Association, AARP, Families USA, and dozens of other organizations.

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