Save Our Children's Healthcare

Florida Consumer Action Network is at the front of the fight to expand the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).  The time is now for Congress to come together on a bipartisan basis and get the job done for America’s children.  Supporters of expanding SCHIP by $35 billion over five years  include:

How does SCHIP work in Florida?

The State Children’s Health Insurance Program in Florida is called KidCare.  Under the KidCare program there are four partners:  MediKids which covers kids ages 1-4, Florida Healthy Kids which covers kids ages 5-18, Children’s Medical Services Network which covers kids from birth through 18 who have special health care needs and Medicaid for Children which covers kids from birth through 18 whose families qualify for the low-income eligibility requirement.   Florida’s KidCare currently serves over 300,000 children but the state still has over 600,000 with no coverage.  The SCHIP bill that was vetoed would have put more than 200,000 uninsured children in Florida into SCHIP.

The Current Battle

SCHIP stands for the State Children’s Health Insurance Program.  It provides healthcare to children whose parents otherwise could not afford it.  There were two bi-partisan attempts by the U.S. Congress to expand SCHIP to cover an additional 4 million children. The SCHIP bill was a battle of compromise after compromise. The House originally proposed expanding the program by $50 billion over five years, but compromised with the Senate and expanded funding by $35 billion.  After the President decided to veto this legislation to ‘remain relevant,’ Congress rewrote the bill to address the major concerns of opponents. This included stricter rules for proving citizenship, capping the program at an income level of 300% of the poverty level so the focus remains on low-income families, and phasing out childless adults within one year.

With over 80% public support for expansion, President Bush
STILL vetoed this essential legislation.  He claimed that the
nation could not afford to give children healthcare. How can
America afford NOT to take care of its most precious resource? 

With growing numbers of uninsured in America, the time is now to protect this vulnerable population. Florida alone could see as many as 232,000 more children enrolled in this critical program if Congress would expand it.  Children’s health should be a number one priority for the nation.  Representatives must not delay or play politics when children’s health is at stake. 

At the same time, the Bush Administration continues to fund and request even more funding for the endless war in Iraq.  One week in Iraq would cost the same as healthcare for 800,000 children for a year.  FCAN is fighting to get America back on track and invest in a brighter future.  Congress eventually had to pass a continuing resolution to keep all children currently on SCHIP enrolled through March 2009, but FCAN will keep fighting for expansion. Leaders in Congress have promised to bring this bill back to the floor in 2008, and Americans must hold them accountable.

Bethany's Story

Florida Consumer Action Network introduced Bethany Wilkerson and her family from St. Petersburg, FL to Congress and the public.  Bethany is a smiling two year old.  She loves to play games and color outside the lines.   At three months old, doctors discovered that Bethany had heart problems and she would need an major heart operation to save her life.  Her parents couldn’t afford it, but luckily, SCHIP could.  Without the program, Bethany may not be here today.

Bethany met with the Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and fought for children’s healthcare in the halls of Capitol Hill.  You may have even seen the family on Countdown with Keith Olbermann, or one of the dozens of news stories featuring the family during this epic battle.   The Wilkerson’s, along with millions of families across the U.S. know that if SCHIP is not expanded, the story will not end this happily for other families.

SCHIP Myth vs Facts

Myth: SCHIP provides health coverage to illegal immigrants.
Truth:  Undocumented immigrants have never been eligible for Medicaid or SCHIP.  The bipartisan bill requires proof of citizenship before enrollment.

 Myth: Expanding SCHIP will move 2 million kids from private coverage into government insurance.
Truth:  As Center on Budget and Policies director, Peter Orszag explains: “this is not correct – CBO defines ‘crowd out’ to include all children who are uninsured when they enroll in SCHIP or Medicaid but whose families would – in the absence of SCHIP – have bought private coverage for these kids at some point in the future, possibly months later.”

Myth:  Expanding SCHIP will lead to socialized medicine.
Truth:  SCHIP is a capped block grant, not an entitlement program.  SCHIP uses private doctors and private health care plans.  It is run at the state level, not the federal level.

Myth:  SCHIP covers “kids” up to 25 years old.
Truth:  In Florida, SCHIP funded KidCare covers children up to age 18.  The federal regulations - the same regulations in the expansion bill - only allow cover up to age 19. 

Because lives depend on it:

Call your Representative and demand they support this program!
    1-202-224-3121