Send an e-mail for SCHIP and America's kids . . .

A reauthorization of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) is coming up in Congress, and, while President Bush (says NY Times Paul Krugman) prefers to use the issue for ideological brinkmanship, NETWORK, a Catholic lobby, is asking you to get involved on behalf of 6 million children with a letter to your Congress member or Senator. Here is some background, courtesy of NETWORK, on this important matter.

The State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) is coming up for re-authorization in 2007. Since its inception in 1997, the number of uninsured children has dropped by almost one-third. Today, it enrolls more than four million children, yet more than 60% of eligible children are not enrolled.

SCHIP is a joint program of federal and state governments, with the federal government paying an average of 70% of program costs, although it was designed as a 50/50 split. In 1998 the program was amended by the federal government allotting an additional $40 billion over ten years to support states with large numbers of low-income children. Even with this, an estimated 17 states will have used up their funding by this year, 2007.

States have leeway in determining eligibility for children in their state. Children whose family income is too high for Medicaid are eligible. However, the upper limit ranges widely. About 70% ensure children up to twice the poverty level. This income level is not sufficient for private insurance, and most workers in this salary range do not have employer-provided health insurance.

The reauthorization must provide funding so that all of the 6 million eligible children in this nation are covered. Without health insurance, there is little chance that these children will have a "medical home" (doctor, clinic, etc.). Research has shown that without this they are less likely to receive regular check-ups and early care. Rather, they wait until a problem becomes critical and resort to emergency facilities. This vastly increases the cost of treatment, puts hospital emergency rooms at the risk of closing and unnecessarily endangers the future wellbeing of the child.

In order for full funding to happen, Congress must find mechanisms to raise the money for the payment offsets. To cover these offsets Congress may pursue two avenues: a tobacco tax increase and cuts to the Medicare Advantage Plan.

NETWORK supports the reduction in overpayment to Medicare Advantage as one way of paying for the increase in SCHIP funding. We oppose the privatization of Medicare at the expense of beneficiaries, particularly those with limited resources. It has come to our attention that the overpayments are due to such things as:

* Advertising to lure seniors into a private program;
* Fees to agents acting as intermediaries between a company and seniors; and
* Profits to insurance companies.

We also believe an increase in the Tobacco Tax would be a viable source of funding.

Respiratory illnesses such as asthma are prevalent and increasing among children in low income families. A growing body of research informs us that second-hand smoke contributes heavily to respiratory ailments. Therefore, there is a natural link between the tobacco tax and improving the health of children.

NETWORK urges four additional items in the re-authorization of SCHIP.

* Sufficient administrative funding and simplicity of process to ensure adequate outreach and enrollment of all eligible children
* Limited frequency of re-certification for eligibility (rather than a monthly or quarterly time period required by some states)
* Mental health parity (see resource for background)
* Coverage of all children of legal immigrants, without an extended waiting period (such as is required for Food Stamps and selected other programs)

The Gospel calls us to care for the most vulnerable in society. Children, particularly those of low-income families, are among the most vulnerable in our nation.