Montana Insurance

On Capitol Hill, a Senate committee, the first action on a bill extending the decade old program for health insurance for more than six million children.

The work programme for children in the classroom of life, families, much to win to qualify for Medicaid, bipartie has so far enjoyed broad support. But in these days, she raised over the policy of health reform.

Unless, acts of Congress at the end, a September State Children’s Health Insurance Program (Schip) no longer exist.

Chairman of the Finance Committee, Max Baucus Senate, he said, satisfied with the compromise bipartie group is counting on his vote.

“This is a way to help the lack of insurance coverage in America, and it is starting with children - and it is low income, starting with children - and I can not believe a better place to start, “he said.

The Montana Democrat, said the action is nearly U.S. $ 35 billion over the next five years - which is sufficient for another 3.3 million low-and modest-income health insurance for children. It would be funded largely by a 61 cents per pack tax increase on cigarettes.

But the bill is always pummeled on both sides of what is presented as a debate issue unexpectedly.

Supporters of Marian Wright Edelman, as in the Children’s Defense Fund say that the bill is not nearly enough to do so.

“And we are really doing, it is difficult to believe that in a country with a $ 13.3 trillion economy, we can not find a way for the 9 million children,” said Edelman.

Edelman says that the bill is not once again spend the entire $ 50 billion Congress for the program in the budget resolution earlier in the spring of this year, is short-sighted on two policy and practical level.

“The American people really want to make children and they understand, it is intelligent, inexpensive, what to do,” said Edelman.

But the bill is also subject of criticism by President Bush, whose consultants have a threat of veto. During a speech in Cleveland last week by President Bush said he supports when he Schip governor of Texas.

“But now there are plans to expand Schip for families - a number of proposals are families who, up to $ 80000 a year,” said Bush. “In other words, the program is beyond the original intent of care for poor children. It is now to get more people on public health. This is what it is. It is a means of encouraging the transfer of the private sector on government plans for health. ”

The Congressional Budget Office suggests, it is true that the enlargement of the Schip program for families with higher income means that some private insurance to abandon the government plans to receive. But it also said that such insurance “substitution”, as it is called, is an inevitable byproduct of government programs to cover more of unversichert.

Today, Baucus said the bill does not go as far as he wants, because it is a compromise to win with his Republican Committee.

“I would like to receive more seen the development of children, insurance program Medicare, but the bill, we increase the committee is much less than this,” said Baucus. “It is therefore reduce a little. But it is good, it is strong. And I can not for the life of me understand why the President’s policy is to play with him. It is simply untrue. ”

House Democrats, now work to a larger - and more supporters - Bill. He confirmed that all the land fallow for money in the budget - and controversial cuts Medicare private health management plans to reject it. House group leader expected to unveil their decision later this week.