Florida Catholic | Insuring Children's Health

Insuring children’s basic health care needs

REGINA METOYER | SPECIAL TO THE FLORIDA CATHOLIC

Published: 10.12.07

For more information, contact the Office of Advocacy and Justice, 407-246-4819.
PHOTO |iSTOCK

President George W. Bush has vetoed a bill that would reauthorize the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, commonly referred to as SCHIP, for another five years. SCHIP (better known in Florida as KidCare) provides money to children with family incomes that are too high to qualify for Medicaid, but not high enough to purchase other forms of health insurance.

At the end of September, Senate and House leaders came to a bipartisan agreement to reauthorize SCHIP. Florida SCHIP reports show that this program has led to a drop in uninsured rates among low-income children by a third between 1997 and 2003. While SCHIP has made phenomenal accomplishments, children are still at risk of not receiving the health care they need.

The $35 billion dollar expansion that would cover a potential 10 million children did not receive the president’s approval. Why? He stated that some children who already benefit from private insurance could end up with public funding as well, and therefore take money away from children who are truly in need.

The president and Congress have until Nov. 16 to ensure SCHIP continues and is adequately funded to cover more of America’s uninsured kids. If the House or Senate is unable to override the presidential veto with a majority vote, then SCHIP will expire and many children could receive less funding or none at all.

Although the rate of uninsured children in Florida has declined in the last five years, the Florida Center for Medicaid and the Uninsured, a research arm of the University of Florida, reports that more than half a million children are still without insurance. About 9 million children in our country do not have any health coverage whatsoever.

The Campaign for Children’s Health Care, a coalition of individuals and organizations, reports that Florida is second only to Texas in having the highest rates of uninsured children — Texas, 20.4 percent; Florida, 17 percent. Additionally, it determined that uninsured children are five times more likely than those insured to have delayed or unmet health care needs. They are also at higher risk of missed diagnoses of serious illness and preventable hospitalizations. This happened to a small girl in Brevard County, who endured one week with a broken arm after misdiagnosis and confusion over her insurance status. This is a daily reality for many people in Florida and throughout the nation.

As Catholics, we are called to put the vulnerable first and to promote the common good, regardless of party politics. Ensuring that SCHIP be a top priority for the president and Congress requires our advocacy efforts and educating the community on this issue. Call or write to the president and Congress to let them know that the health of vulnerable children has been imperiled. You can also help by planning events at schools and community fairs to promote and ensure that qualified children in your community enroll and get the coverage they need.

Everyone should be given a fair chance at life, especially our children — our future. Let’s start with their basic heath care needs.

Metoyer is an intern in the Office of Advocacy and Justice

Return to Diocese of Orlando Front Page

Insuring children’s basic health care needs

Other Stories