sign up for the momlogic newsletter

Hey Congress! Kids Need a Health Care Bailout!

Tuesday, November 3, 2009
filed under: health logic

In America, the richest nation on earth, with a GDP over $14 trillion, we rank 22nd among 30 industrialized nations in low birth weight babies, and 27th in infant mortality rates. Give our beautiful babies a bailout -- join the Stroller Brigade!

women pushing strollers champions for childrens health logo

Elizabeth Thorp: So you can't get to The Washington Post before school dropoff, and your recent issues of The New Republic are gathering dust? No doubt you've still heard about the current health care reform debate and legislation. Everyone agrees that the current system needs to change so Americans can get the affordable care they need. The existing legislation is a huge step in the right direction, but we still have work to do to protect our children.

Under the current health care reform bills, millions of families whose children are insured could face higher costs for health coverage and receive fewer health care benefits -- while millions of uninsured children may never make their way through the maze to actually get insurance.

In 2013, the year that the new Health Care Exchange becomes operational, millions of children will be moved from the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) into the Exchange, where they will be subject to much higher out-of-pocket expenses and fewer benefits than they now receive under CHIP.

"Children must be better, not worse off, after health care reform," states Marian Wright Edelman, the tireless and dedicated founder of the Children's Defense Fund. "It is morally and economically indefensible for America's children to be overpowered by influential lobbyists and insurance companies. Everyone needs to stand up and tell their political leaders that it's time to be Champions for Children."

The Children's Defense Fund is organizing Stroller Brigades to fight for children -- and babies, children, parents, and grandparents (and their strollers) are mobilizing to tell Congress and the President to build on and expand what works in the Children's Health Insurance Program, and to leave children better, not worse, off when health care reform is completed.

Tomorrow, on November 4, a "stroll" to the Nation's Capitol will open the campaign to demand that members of Congress stand up and be Champions for Children's Health. From November 6-8, the campaign goes national: strollers will be rolling across the country, in Arkansas, California, Florida, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, and Texas.

In America, the richest nation on earth, with a GDP over $14 trillion, we rank 22nd among 30 industrialized nations in low birth weight babies, and 27th in infant mortality rates. Give our beautiful babies a bailout!

Join the Stroller Brigade! Visit www.childrensdefense.org/strollerbrigade for exact times and locations, information on holding your own Stroller Brigade, or participating in a "virtual brigade."



previous: Warning: Hide the Button Batteries
next: Sandra Bullock Fights Porn Star for Custody of Hubby's Kid

filed under: health logic

12 comments so far | Post a comment now >>

 
It’s always one step forward and two steps back it seems! I am glad the Obama team taking on this huge issue but also can’t understand why they can’t build in some protections for the CHIP children who are transferred?? Thank you for this important information — I will pass along to my mom friends and school list serves.
- Dana Morr
Posted 11/03/09 02:05 PM
 
Did you not hear that under the new health care bill only 2% more of people will be covered? You need to read the health care bill before you talk about thanking obama for “change” because this bill is not the “change” we need. And no I haven’t read the whole bill but I am in the 300’s of the 1800 paper bill. Please don’t just trust our government to do the right thing because they all (reps and dems) have their own agendas.
- chris
Posted 11/03/09 03:07 PM
 
cough..cough…Bullshit to the author and Chris!! I love how you say your in page 300 of the 1800 page bill….You do know that their are 2 versions of the bill right now in the house?
- I call Bullshit!!
Posted 11/03/09 03:19 PM
 
I’m reading the bill that was posted on line by the democrated party. The one that Nancy P. is pushing thru. And I can ungderstand why you don’t care for what I said but I don’t understand what your problem is w/the author. Have you read both bills?
- chris
Posted 11/03/09 04:14 PM
 
I highly doubt the widely known and respected Children’s Defense Fund has incorrect information - that is who the author has cited. They are a major national advocacy organization that works with both Democrats and Republicans…. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Children’s_Defense_Fund
- I'm for kids
Posted 11/03/09 05:18 PM
 
I fear this program will leave my family with a lesser health plan than we currently have through my husband’s employer. Our current plan is a 90/10, low deductible, very affordable. I’m sorry for those without coverage or without enough coverage, but leave my plan alone. I and my husband have worked long and hard for what we have. Perhaps some that haven’t need to step up to the plate need to do the same.
- tennmom
Posted 11/03/09 05:18 PM
 
Tennmom, I understand where you are coming from but what if your husband lost his job? You could get COBRA for a short period of time at a extremely high rate but what then? Unless you are in excellent health with no history and I mean NO history. Expect a denial or a exclusion on your benefits. My daughter was one when my husband decided to attend law school, so no more work insurance and we had to get private insurance for her. Aetna put a lifetime exclusion on her (R) arm because she fall a month prior and had a hairline fracture. BC/BS places a 7 year exclusion on her hip because she was born with a common disorder called hip dyplesia. She had seen an orthopedic doctor, treated and released. My husband graduated in the top 10 of his class and has not been able to get a job in this economy despite hundreds of applications. So stop passing judgments on others when you don’t know every person’s circumstances. Believe me, we have stepped up to the plate and are still there but sometimes you just don’t control everything. I really hope that life never deals you a blow and someone looks at you and tells you to step up to the plate.
- Jennifer
Posted 11/03/09 05:52 PM
 
Jennifer, it seems that you are also passing judgement. Your husband chose to leave his job and lose his work insurance, he didn’t lose his job liking the millions of people out there has. If you don’t understand what the chip program is, you need to do some research on it. This program was started in 1997 by T. Kennedy, H. Clinton and others who believed that children should always have the right to have insurance. This program is for children of people who make too much to apply for medicad but not enough to pay full price for private insurance. President Obama and Nancy Pelosi has decided to take this option out in the new health care bill. How is that helping our children? If this health care bill goes through, these millions of children who are in this program will not be qualified for the “public option” so then these parents will have to pay up to triple what they are paying now. This is NOT a good health care bill.
- chris
Posted 11/04/09 04:50 AM
 
Chris, your right, we chose to leave and for him to go law school. We also saved and made lots of sacrifices. We still have very little income coming in and we live off of saving. Yet, I still manage to pay for private health care insurance for my daughter. I know what chip is and let’s be a little realistic when I hear the word triple the cost. If a individual makes under $21,000 a year, triple is still zero for a household size of 1 or $51,000 for a household size of 5. Now, let’s take the low cost for household size of 5 that makes $77,000 (premium now is $68.00 according to you it will triple so that family would now pay $204.00.) Even at triple, that is less then what you would pay for work insurance for a family of 5. Let’s not forget there is absolutely no exclusions on your children like you have when you pay for private insurance. I understand that you don’t like the health care bill, but we need change and this is a start. Maybe, I would agree with you about the chip program if the cost of what the family pays is more equivalent to their income. That is absolutely ridiculous that a family of 5 that makes $77,000 a year cannot afford $200 a month for health insurance. People need to get their priorities straight.
- Jennifer
Posted 11/04/09 10:59 AM
 
When we made the conscious decision for him to go law school in order to secure a better future for our family. We did not in a million years think that private health care insurance companies would put a LIFE-TIME and a 7 YEAR EXCLUSION on my 1 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER. I am all for a health care reform that gives the consumers better protection.
- Jennifer
Posted 11/04/09 11:28 AM
 
I’ve been wondering: Why is the cost of health care procedures and treatments so mysterious? How come I don’t know the cost of a test or an office visit? In all the talk about health care reform, I don’t feel like there’s enough discussion about understanding the real costs of health care. All of us want better quality and better value, and so we’ve got to stop just nodding along and start getting good health care and lifestyle choices in our own control. Where they belong. We shouldn’t hesitate to ask “Why?,” “How much?” and “Is it necessary?” I got a kick out of this fun, short video. Check it out. It makes you wonder why out health care system is set up the way it is. www.whatstherealcost.org/45secondstoshare What do you think?
- ChristineWithRegence
Posted 11/05/09 10:05 AM
 
@Christine… You’re so right! My son recently had a minor operation and it was like pulling teeth to try to get our estimated portion/responsibility from the hospital prior to the procedure. We were trying to do the right thing and pay at the time of service, but it was insane trying to figure out what the cost was, muchless be able to budget for it!
- Rachel
Posted 11/06/09 09:25 AM
(not displayed)
  remember me?      
 

Avoid clicking “Post” more than once.

resources
experts guides
bloggers staff
newsletter videos
games twitter
advertisement

Win a $5000 Hershey's Diamond Pendant!
Enter Here

Win a $5000 Hershey's Diamond Pendant!

enter here

community

Join the Momlogic community!

 

momlogic community logo

 

Sign Up
Login
Enter without joining

coupons       More special offers     momsview coupons  

Amby Baby Motion Beds/Hammocks Recalled

find out more