Bush administration touts latest (much lower) estimate of uninsured children in proposing funding

[TexasLawyer]

Source: AP

Bush administration touts latest estimate of uninsured children in proposing funding

By Kevin Freking
ASSOCIATED PRESS

4:31 p.m. June 18, 2007

WASHINGTON – There are fewer low-income, uninsured children than previously believed, and that means tripling federal funding for a children's health insurance program is unnecessary, the Bush administration said Monday in touting a new study.

Democrats have made expansion of the State Children's Health Insurance Program a priority. The politically popular program is set to expire on Sept. 30. It serves children in families with incomes too high to qualify for Medicaid but not high enough typically to afford private insurance.

Democratic lawmakers want to triple its funding, an increase of $50 billion over five years. The administration has said that an increase of $5 billion is sufficient. Democratic lawmakers said the study, which was released shortly before the Senate Finance Committee was to take up legislation to renew the program, is flawed.

The Urban Institute estimated that about 4.9 million children under the age of 19 were uninsured for the entire year. That's a much lower estimate than the one compiled by the Census Bureau, which counts more than 8 million uninsured children. “This study flies in the face of all accepted data on the number of uninsured American children who desperately need and could receive health coverage through a renewal of the (SCHIP) program,” said Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., the chairman of the Finance Committee.

<snip>

Read more: http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/nation/20070618-1631-childrensinsurance.html

[Avalux]

1. Study: 1 In 4 Kids Go Without Health Care

From CBS New article dated today:

It's estimated that 9 million children are completely uninsured. But the new study says 11.5 million more kids end up without medical care for part of the year. And another 3 million can't get a ride to the doctor. That's more than 23 million children.

To close the gap, Redlener is on Capitol Hill lobbying for a dramatic expansion of the $5 billion federal Children's Health Insurance Program, or CHIP. Redlener wants to add 9 million people to CHIP, plus dental and mental health benefits and transportation.

The price tag for all that? "Really what we need is $60 billion. Between $50 and $60 billion," he says.

Getting that type of government assistance may be a long shot, but Redlener says it's cheaper than the cost of neglecting the medical needs of a generation of children.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/05/02/eveningnews/main2755159.shtml

The way the Bush criminals adjust the stats to look as if things aren't so bad is sickening. They won't spend the 50 billion necessary to take care of OUR children, all the while spending billions upon billions upon billions to kill and destroy.
:cry:

[rodeodance]

2. Feds are pushing more costs to the states with this estimate!!

“Instead of wasting time skewing facts, I wish HHS would start working with Congress to protect the health of our kids,” said Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

States use the grant money provided by SCHIP, along with their own dollars, to subsidize health coverage. On average, the federal government pays about 70 percent of the costs and states pay about 30 percent.

States have asked Congress to provide enough money to cover currently eligible participants as well as continue to give states flexibility to cover adults and children with higher incomes. In a recent letter to the committee, the National Governors Association said it was crucial that Congress give the states room to decide who the program should serve.

“I am committed to ensuring California leads the way in reducing the number of uninsured children,” said Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, R-Calif., in a separate letter to Finance Committee leaders. “It is my goal to cover every uninsured child in California under 300 percent of the federal poverty limit using SCHIP funds.”

[Journeyman]

3. $50 billion -- what is that, about $3 Iraq Months . . .

what we'll spend in Iraq between now and late August would insure those children for over 5 years, yet Bushco wants to deny it, and the "opposition" won't point out the most basic interests, that we're giving our money to strangers who don't like us, and denying our children so we can pursue nightmares in a bleak desert.

[ladywnch]

4. no doubt they are claiming that the other 3.1 million uninsured

children are illegals and as such are not eligible for coverage.

[lovuian]

5. Thats American children what about the children

who come here over the border??? they aren't on the study are they???

[ClintonTyree]

6. Hey, that's 45 billion that could be awarded to Halliburton.....

in no-bid contracts. People in this country have to get their priorities straight. We can't have all of these social programs draining the Treasury when there's rampant militarism to support. :sarcasm: