President Obama signs SCHIP reauthorization

Posted onAuthorCedric Dark, MD, MPH, FACEP

Although SCHIP re-authorization was signed into law by President Obama on February 4, 2009, several key features from our 2009 Policy Prescription remain to be enacted:

  • expand eligibility for SCHIP to children from all income range
  • SCHIP should be valued actuarially
  • all parents will have the right to purchase SCHIP coverage for their children
  • subsidies must be provided to ensure that those with financial need can purchase coverage
  • Insurance companies must be mandated to guarantee enrollment to any child who applies
  • parents must be held responsible to cover their children with either public or private insurance