"Today we celebrate a huge step forward in our efforts in New York State and across this nation to ensure that all children get the opportunity to grow up healthy. I applaud President Obama and Congress for working quickly to achieve consensus on bipartisan legislation reauthorizing the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). I also want to thank the members of the New York Congressional Delegation for working so diligently to ensure that the bill meets the needs of New York's uninsured children.
"Nothing is more important than the health of our children. That is why, in 2008, my administration worked with the State Legislature to ensure that all of New York's uninsured children would be eligible for low-cost or moderate health care coverage by increasing the income eligibility threshold for Child Health Plus from 250 to 400 percent of the federal poverty level. We took these important steps to protect our children, fully covering the federal funding share of the expansion after President Bush twice vetoed federal legislation that would have provided increased financial support for Child Health Plus. These actions ensured that nearly every one of the 400,000 uninsured children in New York State have access to health insurance.
"The Child Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 is a good bill for children and for New York. New York will be able to obtain federal funding for our expansion to 400 percent of the federal poverty level ($70,000 for a family of three). This bill creates incentives for enrolling the lowest income children, provides stable funding for state SCHIP programs at a time when New York and other states are facing historic fiscal challenges, and will also help the State continue to cover our most vulnerable children - like those losing coverage because their parents have lost their job or those who live in low-income families.
"New York State stands ready to utilize this legislation to cover our children. As of January, Child Health Plus, the State's SCHIP program, covered 375,000 children statewide. Since the expansion to 400 percent of the federal poverty level in September, an additional 10,000 children have been enrolled. Two-thirds of these newly enrolled children are in families with incomes between 250-300 percent of the poverty level ($44,000-$52,000 for a family of three), the fastest growing segment of uninsured children.
"New York also focused on reducing barriers to enrollment to make it easier for families to get and keep their coverage, as well as increased outreach to spread the word about the availability of affordable health insurance for all uninsured children. This legislation provides additional funds for states like New York that have been national leaders on the issues of health care outreach and enrollment."
This is a great day all around the country. The SCHIP with a Bush White House was a tough one. Now with a president who has health care on his mind, it is great to see SCHIP expanded.
