Senate Passes SCHIP despite Republican Opposition - Florida Kids Get Health Insurance

Florida has had a big problem covering health care costs of low income families. With all the bad financial news coming out each day, it’s nice to hear some good news about Washington, especially when it’s related to health insurance.

According to Florida health insurance web ( FloridaHealthInsuranceWeb.com ), “Senate Democrats overwhelmingly approved health insurance legislation that will provide insurance to 11 million low-income children” - The State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), which is aimed at families earning too much money to qualify for Medicaid but not enough to afford private insurance, currently covers close to 7 million youngsters. "Senate lawmakers voted 66 to 32, largely along party lines, to renew the joint state-federal program and spend an additional $32.8 billion to expand coverage to 4 million more children.

Morgan Moran, a health insurance consultant said, “The expansion of SCHIP would be paid for by raising the current cigarette tax from 39 cents a pack to $1, bad news for smokers; good news for kids.” Senate Republican’s found hard against the bill, and President Obama is expected to sign a final version as early as next week.

The health insurance consultant pointed out, “This is not the complete insurance package promised by Obama.” During the presidential campaign, “Obama pledged to provide coverage to every American child - this of course falls short - experts estimate that once the program is fully implemented about 5 million youngsters will remain uninsured.”

This morning, the new President praised the Senate’s action, saying “Providing health care to more than ten million children through the Children’s Health Insurance Program will serve as a down payment on my commitment to ensure that every American has access to quality, affordable health care.” Moran, of Florida health insurance web said, “President Bush vetoed similar legislation twice”.

HOW WILL THIS WORK?

Moran said, “Low-income kids from all across the state have been waiting for Congress to fulfill the promise of the SCHIP Program for them.” The program “will get low-income, uninsured kids the doctor’s visits and medicines they need to stay healthy, and approval of this bill opens the door of the doctor’s office to millions of children who live without proper health care today.”

REPUBLICAN’S AGAINST PLAN

Thirty two Republicans voted against the measure, (listed below) - the top Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, Sen. Charles Grassley of Iowa said “this is a very unfortunate beginning,” and said “he was ’disgusted’ by the outcome, adding - ”It does not bode well for cooperative work in the coming months" he said. The vote came just one day after the House passed an $819 billion economic stimulus package without a single Republican vote; some longtime lawmakers questioned the president’s ability to forge a new era of cooperation in the capital.

THESE REPUBLICAN SENATORS VOTED AGAINST INSURANCE FOR KIDS

Barrasso (R-WY) * Bennett (R-UT) * Bond (R-MO) * Brownback (R-KS) * Bunning (R-KY) * Burr (R-NC) Chambliss (R-GA) * Coburn (R-OK) * Cochran (R-MS) * Cornyn (R-TX) * Crapo (R-ID) * DeMint (R-SC) Ensign (R-NV) * Enzi (R-WY) * Graham (R-SC) * Grassley (R-IA) * Gregg (R-NH) * Hatch (R-UT) Inhofe (R-OK) * Isakson (R-GA) * Johanns (R-NE) * Kyl (R-AZ) * McCain (R-AZ) * McConnell (R-KY) Risch (R-ID) * Roberts (R-KS) * Sessions (R-AL) * Shelby (R-AL) * Thune (R-SD) * Vitter (R-LA) Voinovich (R-OH) * Wicker (R-MS)

Contact Information

Morgan Moran

Florida Health Insurance Broker

Florida Health Insurance Web

Contact via E-mail