With 289 votes and no looming veto, the brand new House of Representatives passed a bill yesterday to expand the successful State Children's Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP). During his presidency, Bush whipped out his veto twice to kill similar legislation. Bush argued that the bill would extend coverage to high income children and eventually increase taxes by more than Congress planned.
If passed into law, the bill will provide $32.3 billion over about four years (financed by an increased tax on tobacco) in order to cover four million uninsured American children. The Senate should soon pass its version, and President Obama will likely sign it into law.
Since Democrats could never muster enough votes to override Bush's veto, the expansion of children's health care is one of the first signs of change. Do you think it's for the better?
Bertie
Princesse Tam-Tam
Polo Ralph Lauren
Absolutely! This is a good sign. I have an aunt and uncle who vote republican who had healthcare for their kids cut because of the vetos.
1Well, I think it's a good idea for everyone to get free health care. Though, since I'm a smoker (I know, it's a nasty habit and I need to quit..) I'd rather not have them raise tabacco prices anymore.
2Yeah, sounds like a great idea...except it doesn't work. For a recent example, check out Hawaii, which tried Statewide free health care for a while, but recently had to cut it because they were going bankrupt. They aren't the only ones, either. Russia is a prime example.
3Yeah I don't understand why they would need to do this when Obama is going to implement some kind of universal coverage. Seems they would overlap. I'm not for government sponsored anything. So, ummm, no I don't think this is a good idea.
4Obama hopes to implement some kind of universal health care. I personally don't see it happening... it's just going to be a massive undertaking. And then who foots the bill? And what if you are content with the insurance you have now... should you have to change to the universal healthcare plan?
5It does sound like a great thing, but one of the Republican's objections is too true in this case. The poorest children are still not getting the coverage.
6It's a start...
7Mmmhmmm, it is a start, but definitely not in the right direction. Our healthcare may not be perfect, but it's fairly close if not THE best healthcare you can find in the world today. Why change something that doesn't need to be changed?
8Do we really have the best health care in the world? I think there are plenty of people who would disagree with that statement.
9Because everyone should have access to THE best healthcare you can find in the world today.
10You know what I'll never mind paying taxes for? Health coverage for children. This is a good start.
"Our healthcare may not be perfect, but it's fairly close if not THE best healthcare you can find in the world today."
This is one of those statements usually made out of a sense of misguided national pride. Actually, in the World Health Organization's year 2000 (last year they did it) rankings of countries' health systems, the U.S. comes in at #37. Behind, among many other nations, Andorra, Oman, Colombia, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Morocco, and Costa Rica.
11Jude are those ranking based on the cost??? I would bet they are. People come to the US for specialized care from ll around the world. If we are worse than costa rica, why don't people go there?
12Jude are those ranking based on the cost??? I would bet they are. People come to the US for specialized care from ll around the world. If we are worse than costa rica, why don't people go there?
13Hain, according to WHO, the rankings are based on "five indicators: overall level of population health; health inequalities (or disparities) within the population; overall level of health system responsiveness (a combination of patient satisfaction and how well the system acts); distribution of responsiveness within the population (how well people of varying economic status find that they are served by the health system); and the distribution of the health system’s financial burden within the population (who pays the costs)."
14"If we are worse than costa rica, why don't people go there?"
I dunno, maybe because we're right here and people don't realize that we aren't the best? But it's not as if "not the best" equals "terrible" or even "inadequate," mind you. I was simply taking issue with Carrie Sue's assertion that ours is one of the best compared to other countries.
15Actually, many people from California DO go to Costa Rica for health care - it's a popular place for plastic surgery and dental work that's too costly here.
16We should definitely expand children's health care. I remember when my dad lost his healthcare and I was still under his coverage. It was scary being like that. I had a problem with my hearing and I couldn't get it fixed. It's strange when you're just a kid. You can't get better healthcare on your own and you just feel so powerless over something that isn't even your fault.
17It's definitely a good start. Everyone should be able to access health care, especially children. Let's hope it is followed by some sort of universal health care for everyone.
18"This is one of those statements usually made out of a sense of misguided national pride. Actually, in the World Health Organization's year 2000 (last year they did it) rankings of countries' health systems, the U.S. comes in at #37. Behind, among many other nations, Andorra, Oman, Colombia, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Morocco, and Costa Rica."
I think it's important to take into account that this is a highly political organization, which makes rankings based on factors that are not equally important in everyone's opinion.
Any ranking system that puts the United States at 37 behind the aforementioned countries is pretty obviously skewed.
19YES, definitely the right direction.
The thing is, you SAVE money when people have access to preventative care so they don't have to keep putting stuff off and eventually have a really expensive problem.
And I'd like to know how many people are actually HAPPY with their current insurance--seems it depends on your employer.
20YES! i have been campaigning for this for years and writing so many letters to senators and representatives. so excited!
21"Jude are those ranking based on the cost??? I would bet they are. People come to the US for specialized care from ll around the world. If we are worse than costa rica, why don't people go there?"
...exactly. I've asked that question for years, and no one can really answer it.
22"Jude are those ranking based on the cost??? I would bet they are. People come to the US for specialized care from ll around the world. If we are worse than costa rica, why don't people go there?"
...exactly. I've asked that question for years, and no one can really answer it.
I said: "maybe because we're right here and people don't realize that we aren't the best? But it's not as if "not the best" equals "terrible" or even "inadequate," mind you. I was simply taking issue with Carrie Sue's assertion that ours is one of the best compared to other countries." I would also add that the cost of traveling there and possibly finding lodging for oneself and family would tend to offset the benefits, and reiterate that "not the best" does NOT equal "not good."
Steph pointed out: "Actually, many people from California DO go to Costa Rica for health care - it's a popular place for plastic surgery and dental work that's too costly here."
23Ever heard of 'medical tourism'?
24Plenty of people DO go to Brazil, Argentina or Costa Rica for plastic surgery and dental work, even in vitro fertilization overseas is attracting people. People come here for some specialized care, but India attracts a lot of patient visitors too.
oops i said it again.
25They may go to those places for plastic surgery, but when they have a life threatening illness they come here.
26Medical tourism out of the United States is actually a growing phenomenon, and nations such as India benefit from our patients going there for procedures such as heart surgery. There's even a medical tourism industry now.
27What I like most with SCHIP, besides more insured children, is the probability that many Americans might actually think of cutting the smoke off. Good health to everyone!
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