Q: What is SCHIP?
A: The State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) was designed to provide health coverage to low-income, uninsured children whose parents do not qualify for Medicaid or have the means to afford private health insurance. As the top Republican Member on the Senate Finance Committee, I helped draft a bipartisan bill this summer to reauthorize and improve SCHIP. This bill was approved by 17 of 21 senators on the committee and was approved 68 to 31 in the full Senate. The Senate bill would maintain health care coverage for the 6.6 million children, including 800,000 estimated to lose coverage at the current funding level currently covered by SCHIP and add 3.2 million low-income, uninsured kids in the next five years. I insisted SCHIP return to its core mission: to provide health care coverage to low-income uninsured children. Too many states have received waivers to open up enrollment to adults . That drained resources from the pot of money designated for the neediest and most vulnerable children living in our communities. I also agreed to increase SCHIP funding by $35 billion over five years, financed by an increase in the federal tobacco tax, as long as Congress turns SCHIP around to its original intent. Fixing the funding formula to help more uninsured children from low-income families receive regular check-ups and lead healthier lives is simply the right thing to do.
Q: How does SCHIP help kids in
Iowa?
A:
Iowa created the hawk-i – Healthy and Well Kids in Iowa – program using federal funds provided through SCHIP. According to a new statewide survey, Iowa has made measurable progress to reach uninsured children. The 2005 Iowa Child and Family Household Survey reports that more Iowa children have health insurance than they did in 2000. During negotiations on the bill to renew SCHIP, lawmakers built in incentives targeted to enroll the poorest uninsured children. Iowa has an estimated 60,000 eligible children who still are not enrolled in hawk-i. The income threshold for a family of four in Iowa eligible to receive free children’s health care under hawk-i is $30,975. A family of four earning up to $40,300 will pay no more than $20/month. Parents with children age 19 and younger may check out eligibility and enrollment requirements by making a toll-free, confidential call at 800/257-8563. Those with access to the Internet may download an application from www.hawk-i.org http://www.hawk-i.org/ . Services covered under hawk-i include wellness visits, immunizations, prescription medicine, eyeglasses, dental care, hearing exams, mental health treatment and emergency care. These services help ensure the most vulnerable children in Iowa have the best opportunity to grow healthy minds and strong bodies. From my senior position in the U.S. Senate, I will continue working for the youngest generation of Iowans and push ahead with my bipartisan compromise agreement to renew SCHIP as it makes its way through Congress.