Hillary Clinton: Initiated the "Childrens Health Insurance Program"...covered 6 mil children...

[SaveElmer]

As First Lady Hillary Clinton initiated the "Childrens Health Insurance Program" which has provided insurance for over 6 million children...

It was the largest expansion of health care since medicaid was passed in the 1960's

The State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) is a national program in the United States designed for families who earn too much money to qualify for Medicaid, yet cannot afford to buy private insurance. The program was created to address the growing problem of children in the United States without health insurance.

Recently she and Rep. Dingell introduced legislation to expand the scope of this program...

http://www.hillaryclinton.com/news/article/view/?id=1433

See this article by Paul Krugman...

Consider the choice between two government programs.

Program A would provide essential health care to the eight million uninsured children in this country.

Program B would subsidize insurance companies, who would in turn spend much of the money on marketing and paperwork, and also siphon off a substantial fraction of the money as profits. With what's left, the insurers would provide additional benefits, over and above basic Medicare coverage, to some older Americans.

Which program would you choose? If money is no object, you might go for both. But if you can only have one, it's hard to see how anyone could, in good conscience, fail to choose Program A. I mean, even conservatives claim to believe in equal opportunity -- and it's hard to say that our society offers equal opportunity to children whose education may be disrupted, who may even find their lives cut short, because their families can't afford proper medical care.

And here's the thing: The question isn't hypothetical. Universal health care may happen one of these years, but the choice between A and B is playing out right now.

Program A is the proposal by Senator Hillary Clinton and Representative John Dingell to cover all children by expanding the highly successful State Children's Health Insurance Program. To pay for that expansion, Democrats are talking about saving money by shutting down Program B, the huge subsidy to private insurance plans for Medicare recipients -- so-called Medicare Advantage plans -- created by the 2003 Medicare Modernization Act.

The numbers for that trade-off add up, with a little room to spare. Covering all children would cost about $50 billion over the next five years, while the Congressional Budget Office estimates that eliminating the Medicare Advantage subsidy would save $65 billion over the same period (and $160 billion over the next decade.)

[stray cat]

1. Excellent point to remember - partial success still trumps no success

[Benhurst]

2. Good for her! But when, oh when, is The World's Only Superpower

going to provide national health for all its citizens, like every civilized nation in the world?

BushAmerica: What a DUMP!

[rodeodance]

3. soon, I think it is a matter of time (unless Repugs get back in Charge)

[BayCityProgressive]

4. you have to hand it to her

on healthcare she is realistic and pragmatic, but her goal of universal coverage remains the same. I am not a Hillary supporter, but I would vote for her in the general election. She did great work on this.

[papau]

5. It is hard to fight the fact that Hillary gets things done - 93 health care the exception - but I

still need her to sign on to at least "an eventual" single payer national health goal.

[BayCityProgressive]

6. I support single-payer as well

I doubt it will ever come in the form of some massive bill being passed though. The Insurance lobby is HUGE and there is just no realistic chance of it happening. Hillary knows this and has worked for things that are acheivable. the CHIP program and the VA helathcare bills that the Clinton's passed went a long way towards pushing non-profit healthcare for more Americans. I have some serious problems with her on other issues, but I would trust her 100% on health and children's issues. I think she really does hold these issues dearly and works to make real change.

[papau]

7. I know how hard she fought for single payer in 93 as I was plugged into the insurance lobbying

effort that got Bill, before there ever was a task force, to make the decision that the task force could not look at single payer. Indeed it is mentioned in their books.


Perhaps Edwards backdoor approach is the best we can do - but if so I want Hillary to have a similar plan to the Edwards "insurance" option where - - for some group - - in some circumstances - - as a choice of responses to being without insurance - - or to needing to renew prior coverage - - or being taken care of by a minimal state plan - -or because the employer drops below a given level of employee subsidy for health insurance - -that would be a "Medicare for all" option that did not involve insurance companies.

Edwards' give "them" what Congress gets option is still an insurance company rip off.

[SoCalDem]

8. To politicians, "eventual" means when the Boomers have all died off

By then, our population will be younger/healthier.. (unless the years with NO coverage have weakened them)..

Congress loves to play kick the can with the difficult issues.. Nibble a little here..there, but never really address the hard parts of the problems because they would lose lobbyist money to buy crappy tv commercials, so they can keep THEIR cushy jobs with GREAT medical coverage..