The Facts On SCHIP
Since the Democrats continue to fight for their massive SCHIP expansion, the White House has released some facts and figures about the issue. They’re pretty interesting:
* 300%: Congress’ SCHIP bill would strongly encourage States to provide government health coverage for children in families making 300% of the Federal poverty level.
* $62,000: 300% of the Federal poverty level is nearly $62,000 per year for a family of four.
* $58,865: The median household income for all households with children under 18 is $58,865.
* 57%: 57% of all children are in families that are at or below 300% of the poverty level.
* 53%: 53% of families with children are at or below 300% of the poverty level.
* 200%: SCHIP was created to help lower-income children who do not qualify for Medicaid (children in families at or below 200% of the Federal poverty level).
* 500,000: States have not enrolled in SCHIP more than 500,000 poor children in families under 200% of the poverty level who are eligible.
* 95%: The President believes 95% of SCHIP-eligible children should be covered before children from wealthier households are covered.
* 2 million: Of the 5.8 million enrollees Congress’ legislation would attract by 2012, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projects that 2.0 million (one in three) would drop private insurance to enroll.
It’s pretty interesting that, under the SCHIP expansion, over 50% of American families with children would qualify for tax-payer funded health care. Are we really supposed to believe that over half of American families are poor and incapable of providing for their own health care?
According to the 500,000 or so children who currently qualify for SCHIP but don’t use it (not to mention the 2 million children who are currently covered by private insurance but would be eligible for the SCHIP expansion), the current program is already covering people who don’t need it.
As I’ve been saying all along, this isn’t about helping people who can’t help themselves. This is about making people dependent on the government for the sake of expanding government power.
