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For Immediate Release: Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Contact: Ranit Schmelzer or Adrienne Ammerman, 202-588-5180
Statement of Marcia Greenberger
On Reauthorization of the Children’s Health Insurance Program
(Washington, DC) The following is a statement by Marcia D. Greenberger, Co-President of the National Women’s Law Center, given today at a press conference on the reauthorization of the Children’s Health Insurance Program with Chairman Baucus, Senators Stabenow and Menendez and Debra Ness, President of the National Partnership for Women and Families.
“Together, Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) successfully provide health coverage to millions of children living in our nation’s most vulnerable families. At its core, CHIP was designed to provide health care for children living in families stuck between the proverbial rock and a hard place: earning too much for Medicaid, but too little to afford health coverage. Given our current economic crisis, too many children and families still lack health care coverage, creating tremendous financial burdens for families. Reauthorizing CHIP will ensure that these children will continue to have access to critical health coverage, as well as cover an additional 4 million kids.
“We know that women are more likely to work in low-wage jobs that don’t provide health coverage and are faced with impossible choices in these tough economic times: whether to put food on the table, or take their kids to the doctor when they’re sick. Reauthorizing CHIP will end this dilemma for millions of families. Millions of working women will be helped by providing this critical health coverage to their children.
“In addition, this legislation will further strengthen and build on the success of this critical program in important ways that will help millions more families.
“For example, this legislation will ensure that newborn children get a healthy start in life by giving states the option to provide more lower-income pregnant women with critical health care.
“And we strongly support the provision that will allow states to remove the five year waiting period for legally residing immigrant children and pregnant women to access critical health coverage.
“We hoped that parents would not face the loss of health insurance in this legislation. We know that providing parents coverage is not only good for them but helps ensure children stay enrolled; but we support this legislation and are committed to work on health reform that will ultimately ensure access to health care for all.
“We call on Congress to quickly pass CHIP. Reauthorization of CHIP will lay a critical foundation towards achievement of our ultimate goal: reform of our health care system so that all people have guaranteed access to quality, affordable, comprehensive health care.”
To speak with Marcia D. Greenberger, contact Ranit Schmelzer or Adrienne Ammerman at 202-588-5180.
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