NAACP SUPPORTS FEDERAL PROGRAM TO IMPROVE CHILDREN'S ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE NATIONWIDE

THE ISSUE

Since 1997, a federal program known as SCHIP (State Children's Health Insurance Program) has significantly improved American children's access to health care, and has made significant strides in covering racial and ethnic minority children. Initially SCHIP provided $40 billion to states to provide health care coverage to children who lived in families that earned too much to qualify for Medicare but too little to afford private health insurance.

Since its adoption, SCHIP has reduced dramatically (by a third) the number of America's uninsured children. Racial and ethnic minority children have especially benefited from this program; since 1997, the rate of uninsured African American children dropped by almost half; from 20% to 12%; the rate of uninsured Asian and Pacific Islander children has also been cut in half, from 17% to 8%. The rate of uninsured Latino children has gone from 30% to 21%. Because of SCHIP, more than 4 million children currently have access to vital health care services including screening and prevention services that help them stay healthy and grow to be strong and productive adults.

Despite these successes, there is still work to be done. Nine million children in our nation remain uninsured today; more than 5 million of them are racial or ethnic minorities. Nearly three-quarters of them are eligible for either Medicare or SCHIP, yet they are not enrolled in either program. SCHIP must be reauthorized by September of this year; this provides Congress with an excellent opportunity to make real progress towards the goal of providing comprehensive, affordable, high-quality health coverage for all children. First and foremost, Congress must provide enough money to cover all children who are eligible for SCHIP and Medicare, both those who are already enrolled and those who are not. To do this, states will need approximately $60 billion in new federal funds over the next five years.

Tuesday, February 13, 2006 has been designated SCHIP advocacy CALL-IN DAY. Everyone concerned about our nation's children, and our future, is urged to call their Member of Congress (using the toll free number 1-877-509-5437) and urge them to reauthorize and expand the SCHIP program before September of this year.