Support SCHIP Reauthorization, Oppose Democrats' Medicare Cuts & Tax Hikes

Press Release

Support SCHIP Reauthorization, Oppose Democrats' Medicare Cuts & Tax Hikes

Congressman John Boehner (R-West Chester) today emphasized his opposition to plans cutting popular Medicare programs and increasing taxes on working families to pay for an expansion of government-run health care. Although the popular State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) would be among the programs renewed, Boehner noted that growing the program puts it in danger of not being able to help those who need it most.

"I believe that every American should have access to affordable healthcare insurance, and we should continue to focus on free-market solutions that lower prices and improve quality, patient-centered care," Boehner said. "I support reauthorizing SCHIP to help children in low-income families but I do not support House Democrats' plans to cut popular Medicare programs and increase taxes on working families to push through a program that is a first step toward socialized, government-run health care."

SCHIP was established in 1997 as part of the Balanced Budget Act targeting pregnant women and low-income children without health insurance whose family income is up to 250 percent of the federal poverty level. States are given the option of running SCHIP through a separate state agency, through the Medicaid program or a combination of both. Ohio administers the program through the Medicaid-based Healthy Start program.

The state's recent budget provides for an increase in SCHIP for children up to 300 percent of the federal poverty level - that would take the income level up to $51,510 for a family of three and $61,950 for a family of four. In much of Ohio, families earning those income levels are considered middle class, which is not the demographic SCHIP was created to assist.

There are anywhere from 236,000 to 245,000 children in Ohio who currently have no health coverage. But nearly 165,000 of those childrens' parents have not signed them up for SCHIP, despite already qualifying for the program. Throwing additional money at the program at the expense of programs that aid seniors will not force those parents to sign-up their children.

Among the programs that would be cut to pay for an expanded SCHIP is Medicare Advantage, which provides seniors the option of receiving their Medicare benefits through a private health plan - including PPOs, HMOs, private fee-for-service and special-needs plans. Many beneficiaries choose Medicare Advantage because it often offers less expensive co-pays and offers benefits that traditional Medicare does not. There are more than 33,200 seniors in the counties that make-up the 8th District who participate in Medicare Advantage - 9,066 in Butler County; 626 in Darke County; 477 in Mercer County; 2,317 in Miami County; 19,928 in Montgomery County; and 790 in Preble County.

Additionally, studies and surveys have shown that an expansion in those eligible to participate in government-run health programs like SCHIP leads to a decline in those utilizing private insurance despite a proven preference for private insurance.

"Congress should not encourage individuals to drop private insurance in favor of government-run health care, and that's exactly what the Democrats' plan does," Boehner said. "It is troubling that every new solution Democrats put forward involves higher taxes on working families, many of whom are those SCHIP was created to help in the first place.

"It is troubling that Democrats seem intent in paying for more entitlement spending by cutting popular Medicare programs that provide flexible, affordable and modern health-care solutions to minorities, individuals with lower incomes and Ohioans living in rural areas. Cuts in Medicare could mean higher co-pays, a loss in specific health-care benefits, less quality and choice of programs and fewer choices for doctors.

"Government-run medicine is not a "new direction" for America. It's the wrong direction."

NOTE: Last week, House Democrats took the first step toward cutting Medicare by opposing an amendment offered by Rep. Dave Camp (R-MI) which would have prohibited the Center for Medicare Services (CMS) from using taxpayer dollars to implement any policy that would prohibit a Medicare beneficiary from enrolling in Medicare Advantage. The vote is a precursor to the real Medicare cuts Democrats are expected to announce this week in their efforts to undermine the program at the expense of seniors.

Boehner represents Ohio's 8th District, which includes all of Darke, Miami and Preble counties, most of Butler and Mercer counties, and the northeastern corner of Montgomery County. He was first elected to Congress in 1990.

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