Kids must come out of health care reform better off

Health care reform passed the House of Representatives - but the legislation doesn't do enough to protect kids. Now is a critical time to urge our leaders in the Senate to pass health care reform delivers affordable, comprehensive health care for kids - and doesn't undo the progress we've made.

Send your message to your Senators now.

Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: Pass health care reform and protect kids

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

Thank you for working to pass health care reform. As you work to pass a bill, please protect kids. The House bill dismantles the proven success of SCHIP without guaranteeing that coverage for kids will be comparable or affordable in the exchange.

In Washington State, the Apple Health for Kids program, made possible through SCHIP, is a success. In the past year over 100,000 kids lost their health coverage when a parent lost employer-based coverage. Nearly all those kids have health coverage today, thanks to Apple Health for Kids.

Children must come out of health care reform better off, not worse. Coverage for kids must be affordable and comprehensive. No child should have to transition from SCHIP or Medicaid into the exchange, unless coverage will be equal or better, and affordable to families. Coverage kids can't afford to use, is no coverage at all.

Please ensure that the Senate bill keeps language that extends SCHIP until 2019 and also provides the funding to support the program.

Protect language in the bill that ensures that kids are not moved to the exchange unless coverage will be comparable and affordable.

Please protect kids and make health care reform a win for America's children and families.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
November 10, 2009

Background Information

Health care reform is desperately needed in Washington State. 640,000 adults in Washington are without insurance, and the number is soaring as more people lose their jobs, and their coverage.

Over 100,000 kids in Washington have lost coverage when their parents lost the coverage they had through their employers. But Apple Health for Kids picked up 98% of those kids. Thanks to Apple Health for Kids those children who lost their parents' coverage can still get the care, screening and immunizations they need.

Learn more about kids' in the bill that passed the house:

The reform of our nation's health care system should protect and enhance the programs that are working for kids. The Children's Alliance has affirmed broad principles for any health care reform effort, including:

No child should lose coverage or benefits, particularly those currently eligible for Medicaid and CHIP, because of health care reform.
Every child and pregnant woman must have affordable health care coverage.
Every child must have access to a comprehensive and age-appropriate benefits package that supports his/her developmental needs, which includes access to preventive, oral and mental health services.
Coverage must be accessible, automatic, continuous and portable.
Health information technologies must support child health and improve outcomes.
System reform must improve child health measures and accountability.
System improvements must support high-quality clinical and population-based services for optimal maternal and child well-being.
System reform must support prevention and promotion services for children as an efficient strategy for avoiding costly lifelong health and developmental consequences.
System reform must support a strong public health infrastructure and recognize the essential role of safety net providers, including community health centers and school-based health clinics, as critical access points to care for millions of our nation’s children and their families.
System reform must improve coordination of child services across local, state and federal levels and across public-private systems.
System reform must provide substantial funding for evidence-based home visiting programs for at-risk mothers and their young children.
Systems reform must cover as many uninsured as possible by eliminating the five year waiting limit for lawfully present immigrants, avoiding additional verification/documentation requirements on an individual seeking health care through employment, and by covering all in the family if one person in a household is eligible for benefits offered by a health care plan.
System reform must include a Public Option to expand access to affordable health insurance; it is vital to the success of health care reform that a public option to private insurance is established.
System reform must include additional revenues and cannot just rely on cost containment strategies within the health care system.

Read more about health care issues at the Children's Alliance blog. No Kidding!