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California Member of Congress Jerry McNerney: "Low Income Children in California and Our Nation Deserve Health Coverage"

By Randy Bayne
The Bayne of Blog's California Notes

Congress voted once again today to reauthorize the State Children Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). The vote on H.R. 3963 was 265 yeas to 142 nays.

The new version of SCHIP attempts to address concerns raised by President Bush and House Republicans. According to a press release from Congressman Jerry McNerney's office, there are several changes to this bill that did not appear in previous versions:

• SCHIP coverage will be permitted for children only from families who earn less than 300 percent of the poverty level.

• In order to ensure that lowest-income children are covered first, the states will only receive bonus payments for enrolling eligible children in Medicaid, in this case California’s MediCal program.

• The revised bill goes even further that previous versions in clarifying that the legislation does not allow illegal immigrants to get SCHIP:

• If the Social Security Administration cannot confirm an applicant’s citizenship, the applicant will be required to provide the state with additional documentation to confirm eligibility.

• Under the original bill any childless adults covered under SCHIP – a decision made by individual states – would have to have been phased out over two years. Under the bill passed today that requirement is moved up to one year.

The new bill still covers 10 million low-income children, something the Democrats say they are not willing to negotiate. "Low income children in our nation deserve health coverage," says McNerney. He calls continued opposition to SCHIP "simply playing politics. "

"I was proud – again – to support the critical State Children’s Health Insurance Plan, which provides health care to 45,000 children in San Joaquin, Contra Costa, and Alameda Counties," Rep. McNerney said. "There is no reason these children, and other low-income children nationwide, should not have health coverage."

"Millions of children, and their parents, rely on this program for preventive health care. I am reminded of BreAnna and Zachary Turney, students at Tokay Colony Elementary School in Stockton," Rep. McNerney said. "Their mom, Danielle, enrolled them in the Healthy Families program and told me ‘If it weren’t for this program, my children wouldn’t have health care.’"

Rep. McNerney continued, "Danielle said that since her children have been enrolled in Healthy Families, they have received immunizations and seen the doctor to treat colds and other childhood illnesses. Without that type of preventive care, Danielle may have been forced to seek significantly more expensive treatment in the emergency room for a worsened condition that could have been treated earlier on."

The Senate is expected to take up this revised version of the SCHIP legislation soon.

This article originally appeared in The Bayne of Blogs and is published with the permission of the author.

Posted on October 26, 2007

Comments

Why should we pay for someones children who makes 70K or 80K or 84K like this bill?
80K a year is NOT for poor children.

The plan was working perfect as it stands.

Posted by: Jeff at October 26, 2007 06:14 PM

There is nowhere in the bill which grants SCHIP benifits to children from families that make $80k. This is a lie repeated over and over so idiots who can't read whats in the bill, can object.

The Whitehouse can grant wavers to the income requirements for areas with high cost of living. Under no circumstances are they required to allow $70k families SCHIP if they don't want to. Argue the merits of the actual bill, not W's lies. If one smokes, then gripe about the cigarette tax.

Posted by: lloyd sullivan at October 27, 2007 10:59 AM

There is nowhere in the bill which grants SCHIP benifits to children from families that make $80k. This is a lie repeated over and over so idiots who can't read whats in the bill, can object.

Posted by: lloyd sullivan at October 27, 2007 11:00 AM

New York Times,
States establish income limits for the child health program. A recent survey by the Congressional Research Service found that 32 states had set limits at twice the poverty level or less, while 17 states had limits from 220 percent to 300 percent of the poverty level. Only one state, New Jersey, has a higher limit. It offers coverage to children with family incomes up to 350 percent of the poverty level, or $72,275 for a family of four.

In New York, which covers children up to 250 percent of the poverty level, the Legislature this year passed a bill that would have raised the limit to 400 percent of the poverty level, or $82,600 for a family of four.

Even at 70K these families are not Poor. The average US income is under 50k. To say it is for poor children is a lie. I don't smoke, just don't feel a family making 84K sorry 70K needs my tax $$$ to pay for their kids. Stop looking to government to solve your problems.

Posted by: Jeff at October 27, 2007 02:05 PM

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