Childrens’ Health Insurance Program (CHIP) funding is due to expire this Saturday. The program has not been extended yet. CHIP covers 8.9 million kids in FY 2016. In 2009/2010, I was out of work and my daughter was on CHIP. It was the best insurance I’ve ever had as the network was broad, the premium after subsidy was very affordable, co-pays minimal and the customer service assistance in navigating the split enrollment process between Medicaid and CHIP was exceptional.
There is a Senate bill (Hatch-Wyden) that will re-authorize CHIP for five years. The big policy change is that it makes the states pay more of the match in years 3, 4 and 5 compared to current law. That bill needs to go through the House and the Senate by the end of the weekend. It needs to go through without any poison pills and extraneous provisions attached to it.
So if you have a minute, call Congress once again. Let’s take care of the kids today.
Ohio Mom
Seems to me that upping the state match is something of a booby trap, but yes, definitely better to have some CHIP than no CHIP
at all. I am very busy today but will do my best to find time to pester Portman’s interns. I’m curious to see if now that the ACA repeal effort is over, if they’ll find it in them to actually pick up the phone.
eclare
Will call Corker and Alexander today. My rep is good.
Chyron HR
CHIP is a neoliberal sellout like the ACA, but even worse because the Clintons did it (doubtlessly under orders from Goldman-Sachs). Killing it off will be the first (of a infinite number) of steps leading to single-payer.
MomSense
Those bastards. Especially in the non expansion states, this is the only way families can at least protect their kids.
We need to revolt against this Republican let them eat cakeonomics.
Another Scott
RollCall:
CHIP is important, but it’s just one thing. The Teabaggers are incompetent and don’t care that they’re breaking the federal government – they view it as a feature, not a bug.
I assume they’ll pass a short-term extension for these things, kicking the can down the road. But they won’t give up the hostages.
Grrr…
Keep calling and fighting and let them know we’re watching.
Cheers,
Scott.
FlipYrWhig
@Chyron HR: We need to have less and worse insurance so that we can have more and better insurance. That’s Politics 101! :/
Roger Moore
@FlipYrWhig:
No. We need to have less and worse insurance to prove the purity ponies were right all along. That’s far more important than actually helping people.
Major Major Major Major
@Roger Moore: @Chyron HR: @FlipYrWhig: Well, as they said about Stalin, you can’t cry over some broken eggs when you’re making an omelette!
rikyrah
they are sociopaths.
the.entire.lot.of.them.
rikyrah
@Ohio Mom:
Tell us if they actually pick up the phone.
hedgehog the occasional commenter
Resistbotted. Thanks for the reminder.
MomSense
Left a message for Collins. Talked to staffers at Poliquin and King’s offices. Also faxed all three.
TenguPhule
@Major Major Major Major:
But every time they only add the shells in and throw away what’s inside.
TenguPhule
And I’m afraid its just not going to happen.
We shot our bolt just keeping the ACA alive.
I don’t see how we can save CHIP with Republicans in control of the agenda.
Ohio Mom
@TenguPhule: Oh, choose one:
Where there is life, there is hope.
It is not necessary to hope in order to persevere.
It is not incumbent upon you to finish the task but neither are you free from starting it (this last one from some ancient Jewish sage).
If none of those floats your boat, I have more. It is true that we pessimists tend to be right more often than those rosy-eyed optimists, but — the more ethical stance is to adopt optimism, even if it is a cautious optimism. It is choice that I have to make over and over because in the end, it is the only choice.
Kay Eye
Called my two guys this morning. Cruz’s intern did not know what CHIP is, and had never heard of Hatch and Wyden. When I referred to the Hatch/Wyden bill, she asked, “Is this even a senate bill?”
But she promised to pass my message along.
Cornyn’s person said thanks for calling and the message will be noted.
Will send Beto O’Rourke a donation today.
TenguPhule
@Ohio Mom:
Optimism requires at least some basis for it.
There is literally nothing we can do on CHIP. It requires Republican intervention.
And while past performance is no guarantee of future results, this is the GOP we’re talking about.