States Make Significant Progress In Covering Children

Aug 10, 2000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Richard Coorsh

August 9, 2000

(202) 824-1787

e-mail: rcoorsh@hiaa.org

The following statement was released today by Donald Young, M.D., Chief Operating Officer and Medical Director of the Health Insurance Association of America (HIAA):

A recent report from the government’s Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) shows that state governments have made tremendous strides in enrolling eligible children into their Children’s Health Insurance Programs. Their progress, in large part, is due to simplifying and speeding up the enrollment process, and undertaking expanded community outreach programs.

We commend the states for their commitment to enrolling needy children into this important and worthwhile program. Their success rate underscores the feasibility of HIAA’s proposal to expand coverage through the Children’s Health Insurance Program – or through similar public coverage – for adults with incomes at or below the federal poverty line. It also underscores that providing coverage to uninsured Americans ought to be "job one" – our nation’s most important domestic priority.

###