Uninsured Children in America (Even with SCHIP)

It’s human nature to think a problem is solved when we’ve finally achieved a long-sought victory.  The reauthorization and expansion of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) was a battle fought over a number of years, with dramatic reversals like two vetoes by President Bush.  Progressive activists breathed a sigh of relief when President Obama finally signed SCHIP into law in February.  But despite that relief, we still have millions of uninsured children in America.  Solving the problem has only just begun.

A video report from CBS News gives us some inkling as to why:

SCHIP in this case is little comfort to the Terrys.  Business is horrific for Shauna now, but since she was at one point able to make six figuress, her family is ineligible for CHIP because she made above 200% of the Federal poverty line in the past – currently $44,100 for a family of four.  Being a realtor means that her income isn’t regular.  Even if the cratered housing market means her income level would qualify this year, she’ll have a hard time proving it during the application process.

There is a bill in the Texas state legislature to expand CHIP so it covers families up to 300% of the poverty line, which possibly would cover the Terrys.  That bill is consistent with the expansion of SCHIP at the federal level as signed by the president in February.  But it’s dependent on state approval and, well, the state government hasn’t gotten around to it until now – four months after the federal bill was signed.  And there’s still more road to go – Gov. Perry is opposed and the calendar is nearly run out on the legislative season.  This is a cautionary tale for those state-based exchanges in the Patient’s Choice Act, or that odd proposal for each state to create its own public option.  Kicking something as complicated as health care to the states means some will act quickly and embrace the federal mandate, and some will act mind-numbingly slowly and work to undercut it.  In Texas, that means 80,000 children who might qualify under an expanded CHIP still do not.

We haven’t fixed the fact that we have millions of uninsured children. If we’re lucky enough to finally pass health care for all this year, it will be a huge relief and a historic victory.  But we’ll need to remind ourselves that passing the bill is only the beginning of solving the problem.