Oct 17, 2007

veto the veto to veto

President Bush decided to veto the expansion the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (or S-Chip). The S-Chip program basically is a program that provides insurance to poor or middle class children who can not afford a private plan. The expansion encourages families to drop their private insurance plans and enroll in S-Chip.
The author of this editorial believes that the House should veto Bush's decision and continue the expansion. He says that its more then just dropping your private plan to let the government pay for it.
I agree with his points, the families would all be paying appropriate premiums and co-payments, so its not JUST the government covering all costs for you. Another defense the author made was that in vetoing the S-Chip expansion parental unemployment or death was not considered. If either of those were to happen then the child would no longer be covered, but through the S-Chip there would be no risk. The down side to that is that some families who CAN afford private insurance would stay on the S-Chip for those benefits which would cut costs for those who really need it. Also, children's health is important regardless of your income. But i do believe that there should be restrictions, or limitations. That way its fair to the people who can afford private insurance, and therefore have to pay full price. Even though there are always exceptions, the wealthy earned their income, where as people who are less wealthy, as unfortunate as it is, did not necessarily work hard enough to earn appropriate coverage.
So rather then to veto Bush's veto, like the author suggests, i think that the bill should be revised. Do expand the S-Chip, only, expand it less with more limitations.