SCHIP Extended
The following is from Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America:
Leaders in the United States Congress say that they will act to extend health insurance to children in the US this week, with a vote in the US House of Representatives as early as Wednesday, January 14.
The State Children's Health Insurance Program, known as SCHIP, helps 6 million children in low income families pay for the cost of health insurance, but many others are waiting. Congressional leaders want to expand that number to 10 million children.
Expanding health care coverage for kids could not come at a better time. States plan to remove an estimated one million people from insurance coverage by the end of the year, half of them children. With the unemployment rate surpassing 7%, many families will lose employer-based coverage for their kids.
Children with asthma and allergies are particularly at risk. Asthma is now the most common chronic disorder of children, and 70% suffer from allergic asthma. Without medical coverage, access to necessary medicines, physician care and even emergency visits are a challenge. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) supports the expansion of children's health insurance for low-income children because of the important role played by insurance coverage in the management of asthma and allergies.
TAKE ACTION TODAY!
First, make 3 telephone calls or send 3 emails saying that you support a strong SCHIP bill now:
One to each of your United States Senators and one to your member of the US House of Representatives.
You can reach your Senators and House member through the Capitol Switchboard at 1-800-828-0498 or (202) 224-3121. Or, to email them, click on www.senate.gov to search for the Senators that represent your state and www.house.gov to search for the House member that represents your district.
Next, find out how covering children will make a difference where you live. For a map showing uninsured percentages for children under the age of 18 (prepared by the Kaiser Family Foundation), click here.
Leaders in the United States Congress say that they will act to extend health insurance to children in the US this week, with a vote in the US House of Representatives as early as Wednesday, January 14.
The State Children's Health Insurance Program, known as SCHIP, helps 6 million children in low income families pay for the cost of health insurance, but many others are waiting. Congressional leaders want to expand that number to 10 million children.
Expanding health care coverage for kids could not come at a better time. States plan to remove an estimated one million people from insurance coverage by the end of the year, half of them children. With the unemployment rate surpassing 7%, many families will lose employer-based coverage for their kids.
Children with asthma and allergies are particularly at risk. Asthma is now the most common chronic disorder of children, and 70% suffer from allergic asthma. Without medical coverage, access to necessary medicines, physician care and even emergency visits are a challenge. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) supports the expansion of children's health insurance for low-income children because of the important role played by insurance coverage in the management of asthma and allergies.
TAKE ACTION TODAY!
First, make 3 telephone calls or send 3 emails saying that you support a strong SCHIP bill now:
One to each of your United States Senators and one to your member of the US House of Representatives.
You can reach your Senators and House member through the Capitol Switchboard at 1-800-828-0498 or (202) 224-3121. Or, to email them, click on www.senate.gov to search for the Senators that represent your state and www.house.gov to search for the House member that represents your district.
Next, find out how covering children will make a difference where you live. For a map showing uninsured percentages for children under the age of 18 (prepared by the Kaiser Family Foundation), click here.
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