President-elect Obama’s promise to provide health care coverage to every child in the United States is nearing a legislative victory. The U.S. House of Representatives is set to pass a bill which will expand a health insurance program for children living at or near the poverty line who are not covered by Medicaid. This program would expand the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, which was initiated under President Clinton. In 2007, President Bush vetoed similar legislation twice, claiming its reach was too broad.
One foreseeable problem with the legislation is that it leaves the option up to the state of allowing legal immigrants into the program. The bill could potentially leave 5 million children without coverage. If passed, however, the bill would start the Obama presidency off to an optimistic start.
For more information on the bill, see this Washington Post article outlining its details.
