Health reform is at a critical turning point on Capitol Hill and crucial decisions are being made right now to improve our broken health care system. This July, children even marched across the country to make sure their voices were heard in this debate (pictured here).
With all of the improvements being proposed, it's inexcusable that the House of Representatives' health reform legislation does not include what children truly need to have real health care reform.
There's still time to make changes to this legislation, but you need to act today! Your Representative has the ability to influence key Representatives and House Leadership to support amendments to this legislation that would ensure real health care reform for children.
Dear [Decision Maker],
Last month, CDF President Marian Wright Edelman testified at the House Committee on Energy and Commerce's hearing on the House's draft health reform legislation. As your constituent, I wanted to contact you to let you know that I support the actions called for in the Children's Defense Fund's testimony and want them to be incorporated into America's Affordable Health Choices Act.
America's Affordable Health Choices Act takes strong steps towards quality health reform for millions of Americans, but I too am concerned that in the legislation, children don't get the reforms or guarantees that they need and that some children already have. I am very troubled that some low-income children could lose the cost-sharing protections and comprehensive coverage they currently have and are at risk of being worse off. You have the opportunity now to make this right.
Children are not little adults. They have unique health needs that will not be met in a health reform system designed for adults. It is important for the legislation to include crystal-clear language for key issues and solutions that are essential for children:
1. Health coverage must be affordable. All children to 300 percent FPL need cost sharing protections consistent with current out of pocket limits in Medicaid and CHIP of 5 percent income.
2. All children must have comprehensive health and mental health coverage. I urge you to require that all children receive all medically necessary services regardless of which health coverage they have.
3. All eligible children should get and stay enrolled in health coverage. While I am glad to see that your draft bill would enroll uninsured children in health coverage at birth for a minimum of 60 days, states should also be prohibited from imposing barriers to getting children enrolled and keeping them enrolled. Eligible children should be automatically enrolled in to health coverage.
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Please urge Committee members and House leadership to maintain existing protections for children and pregnant women, but also to strengthen and improve these protections. All children and pregnant women in America must be covered.
