Bill Will Provide 694,000 Uninsured Children in California with Coverage

Washington, DC – Congressman Joe Baca (D-Rialto) today joined a bipartisan majority in the House of Representatives to support legislation that will provide health care coverage to 11 million children, including 694,000 children in the state of California who are currently uninsured.  The State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) Reauthorization bill passed the House of Representatives with a 290 to 135 vote, and will now head to President Obama’s desk for signature into law.

Today’s legislation renews and improves the SCHIP program.  The bill preserves coverage for the 7 million children currently covered by SCHIP and extends coverage to 4.1 million uninsured children who are currently eligible for, but not enrolled in, SCHIP and Medicaid.  

“After three years of fighting for this legislation, I am very pleased that President Obama will  sign this key bill to provide health care coverage for 11 million children – including over 690,000 uninsured kids in California,” said Rep. Baca.  “This is the same legislation that President Bush vetoed twice in the last Congress.  Providing health coverage for America’s children is the change America needs.”

“No child in the Inland Empire or anywhere else in America should ever go without medical care,” continued Rep. Baca.  “Especially during these tough economic times, when millions of Americans are losing their jobs and health care, it is essential that SCHIP is expanded without further delay.”

Not only does the bill expand the SCHIP coverage to 4 million additional children, it also improves many aspects of the program.  Quality dental and mental health coverage will now be provided to all children enrolled in the program.  In addition, the bill provides $100 million in grants for new outreach activities to states, local governments, schools, community-based organizations, safety-net providers and others. 

The legislation also gives states the option of covering legal immigrant children immediately, waiving the five-year waiting period currently in effect for both SHCIP and Medicaid coverage.  In addition the bill is fully paid-for by increasing the tobacco tax by 62 cents.

“With over 33,000 uninsured children living in my district alone, the reauthorization of SCHIP is critically urgent,” added Rep. Baca.  “Providing health care to more eligible children is not only the right thing to do – it’s also more cost-effective for taxpayers than using the emergency room as a primary care provider.”

“No parent should have to worry about being able to take their child to the doctor or the dentist,” concluded Rep. Baca.  “Every child deserves the proper care to live a healthy, productive life.”