113th Congress
1st Session

S.

Insure that all children are enrolled in a health insurance program regardless of the economic, ethnic, and racial backgrounds of their legal parent(s)/guardian(s).

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
Sponsored by Senator Johnson (D-MD)
Co-Sponsors:  Senator Primeaux (D-CO), Senator Hazlett (D-MA), Senator Sanders (I-VT), and Representative Scott (D-VA)
April 11, 2013
Ms. Johnson introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

A BILL
Insure that all children are enrolled in a health insurance program regardless of the economic, ethnic, and racial backgrounds of their legal parent(s)/guardian(s).
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. Title
This act may be cited as the “Protective Health Insurance for Children Act” (P.H.I.C.A.)

SECTION 2: FINDINGS
Poverty (19)
2011: 15% rate, 46.2 million
73,737 under the age of eighteen
Since the start of the recession, poverty and unemployment rates have increased causing many families to be left without stable jobs and funds in order to pay for health care insurance.
Number of children in poverty by end of year will be 16.5 million, increase from two years ago (12.8 million) (16)
Nationwide Coverage (16)
2010: 10% of children uninsured, 7.3 million
3,000 children lose insurance per day
Maryland (c. 2009)
8.2% rate, 118,000
495,450 insured under government run health care programs (CHIP and Medicaid)
Texas (c. 2009)
Highest rate in nation: 19.2%, 1.3 million
Over 3 million enrolled in government run health care programs
Enrollment into programs improves the health of children
The passing of this bill will allow the millions of children who are currently uninsured to have the opportunity to enroll in a health care insurance program and be protected under that program.

SECTION 3: ELIGIBILITY
All children including those in low-income homes. Free informational seminars and fairs sponsored by children designated health care programs for parents/guardians in each state.

SECTION 4: TERMS AND BENEFITS
New and current government run health care programs that are specifically designed for children under the age of eighteen will abide by the following guidelines listed in Section 3 in order to insure that all children are enrolled in a protective insurance program to receive benefits including routine check-ups, vaccinations, aide for children with pre-existing conditions, emergency room care, and surgeries at rates that are comfortable and doable for the family of the child. A percentage of funds received by the federal government from the taxes of American citizens will be used to aide children enrolled in government run health insurance programs. Rates will vary based upon annual income of the family after taxes are deducted from the total. The passage of this bill will increase the number of children insured in the state of Maryland and will, overtime, increase the number of children insured in the nation. Many parents/guardians are not aware of their eligibility to sign their children up for programs including Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and Medicaid. It is important to educate the parents/guardians about their child’s eligibility based upon the family’s annual income after taxes in order for them to understand how their child can be enrolled and receive important benefits that will better the health of their child. The passage of the Affordable Care Act allowed for the expansion of programs such as CHIP until September 30, 2015. It is important that along with these expansions, more children have the opportunity to enroll and have protective insurance into these programs regardless of factors including economic, racial, and ethnic backgrounds. Since recent research has revealed how immediate intervention when it comes to health care will result in healthier lives for children, states across the nation have made expanding health care to all children, even those in low-income homes, at the top of their lists. Because of this, states have used unmatched funds from the government in order to extend health insurance to all children. In addition to educating those who currently qualify for enrollment and are not enrolled by means of free informational clinics, it is important to increase the funds provided by the federal government for these programs.