CHIP, Many Children's Only Health Coverage Option

by Fatherofeight | More from this Blogger

13 Jan 2007 04:09 PM

The Children's Health Insurance Program, better know as CHIP, is funded by the federal government and administered by the states. The program was originally funded for a ten year period which is about to expire. Throughout the country, various groups that campaign for children's health issues have been holding meetings to discuss the issue and urge people to write their congressmen and other state and federal leaders about it.

CHIP had become particularly controversial in Texas where participation in the program has been decreasing in the last few years by as much as forty per cent. This was a direct result of cutbacks in 2003, which impacted an estimated 200,000 children. One state legislator has said that it is sad that the state was able to report a budget surplus this year and yet there are so many children that are without coverage.

The purpose of CHIP is to fill the gap between Medicaid, which is for the poorest people, and those who do work but are unable to purchase medical insurance. Some employers simply do not offer any kind of coverage. Most people who have insurance are in a situation where their employer pays some of the cost, enabling the employee to pay for the balance.

The costs of private medical insurance have escalated over the past few years. This has forced some employers to quit offering it and still others to cut back on the percentage that they do pay.

Another problem in this area is the fact that many children who are eligible for either Medicaid or Chip are simply not enrolled. In response to this dilemma, concerned citizens are also calling for easier access to the plans. I have seen this phenomenon in practice.

When I was working with families in some of Houston's poorest neighborhoods, many people did not have any access to medical help. For instance, a lady lived in an apartment complex with her six children. When one of them was sick, she had no transportation, no family doctor, and no money for a drug store.

Her only option was to call an ambulance and say that the child was having a heart attack. When they all got to the hospital and it was obvious that nothing was really wrong, she would get an antibiotic for the child before she left. Of course, none of the bills that were incurred will ever be paid. Then they called our church and asked for a ride back to their apartment.

That is how many poor people live. She was eligible for Medicaid, but did not have it. This not only puts her children at risk medically, it puts a strain on our hospitals and ambulance services.

Congress should renew CHIP for another ten years. I do not have a solution for the other problems, do you?

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A Child's Life in the Ghetto

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The Dietary Problems of Poor People

Financial Assistance in Adoption

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Linda Hansen (1796) 13 Jan 2007 08:06 PM

Like Marvin Zindler says in these parts, it's h-e-double L to be poor. Unfortunately he's absolutely on the money. Art

rsbg (501) 13 Jan 2007 09:55 PM

My kids were on CHIP and were part of the cut-backs in 2003. My Husband and I both work, but the cost of health insurance for us is OUTRAGEOUS. I was paying $384 a month just for me at one time (i had some health problems a few years back). I am very frustrated that I work, I pay taxes, I was born in this country and yet my kids don't have health coverage. When they go to the doctor (or break an arm the day after Christmas-as my youngest one did) we have to pay for it out of pocket. I wish the government would do something about the HUGE amount of people in our country that don't have any kind of health coverage.

Sorry, I got on my soap box, didn't I????? It is a very sore subject for me. :-(

Fatherofeight (2475) 13 Jan 2007 10:58 PM

It is a very sore subject for the parents of the 200,000 children who were impacted by the cutbacks. We will see if the new leadership in congress cares as much about us as they say they do.

Rsbg, you got on that soapbox because I pushed it out there for you to get on, we need for more people to get on it.

Marvin is right, Artcraft, it is ___ to be poor.

PATTI (580) 15 Jan 2007 11:30 AM

Dear Ed, I don't have a solution. It's a shame that these children have to suffer. There's nothing they can do about it. My prayers are with those that can do something. PATTI

Fatherofeight (2475) 15 Jan 2007 11:47 AM

Thanks, Patti, and I don't think that socialized medicine is the answer either. I have spent a great deal of time in London. They have free medical there, everyone knows that what they have is substandard. That is the first answer that pops up in my mind but I don't think it would work. Opinions anyone?