SCHIP Expansion Signed Into Law
Coverage provided for an additional 4 million uninsured children
Congress in February passed a bill reauthorizing the State Children’s Health Insurance Plan (SCHIP), which covers 7 million children nationwide, and expanding the program to extend coverage to an additional 4 million children. President Barack Obama signed the bill into law on February 4, calling it “the first step” on his campaign pledge to bring about universal health
CIR members have been advocating for the expansion of SCHIP since 2007, when it first came up for reauthorization. Twice that year, it passed Congress with overwhelming bipartisan majorities, only to be vetoed by President Bush. CIR members gathered signatures on petitions outside screenings of the film Sicko and participated in rally in Washington to deliver the signatures to Congress.
The SCHIP bill was a long time coming, but is now a victory to be savored for residents advocating for greater access and care for their patients.
In 2007, Dr. Kate Aberger, CIR Regional Vice President for New York, spoke at a rally in Washington D.C. where SEIU delivered a million signatures in support of SCHIP. “This is a huge step in providing better care for millions of children whose families would otherwise not be able to afford health care,” Dr. Aberger said. “It was unthinkable to me that anyone would oppose health care coverage for children, so it’s good to see this expanded bill is finally a reality.” It shows that when we speak out on behalf of our patients, we can make a difference.”
The new bill also includes some new provisions, including a dental benefit if families do not have private coverage, and the removal of a five-year waiting period for legal immigrants and pregnant mothers before they could take part in the program. The five-year waiting period had been included when SCHIP was instituted in 1997, but is now waived.
Dr. Kate Aberger speaks at an SCHIP rally in D.C. in 2007
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