Investor's Business Daily, August 16th, 2007
Politics: Democrats are running ads charging Republican congressmen with opposing health insurance for children. Perhaps they also can explain why they want to cut Medicare and subsidize both the well-off and illegal aliens.
In radio ads sponsored by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, five GOP House members are taken to task for their opposition to expanding the decade-old State Children's Health Insurance Program, or SCHIP.
The ads, which started airing Monday, are neither subtle nor detailed. They are broad-brush attempts to once again paint the GOP as being "against children" for opposing expansion of federally funded health coverage to those who already have or can afford private insurance and to the offspring of illegal aliens.
Nor do the ads explain that the reauthorization of SCHIP passed by both houses of Congress cuts billions from a Medicare program that works. Under the House bill, Medicare Advantage -- which lets seniors choose among various private health plans -- is trimmed by $50 billion over the next five years and by $157 billion through 2017.
"Republicans who continue to vote in lockstep with President Bush and against children and seniors in their districts will be held accountable," says Maryland Democrat and DCCC Chairman Chris Van Hollen.
Exempt from criticism, however, are Democrats who want to cut Medicare so they can provide insurance to those who already have it, or who can afford it, and who want to provide taxpayer-funded benefits to illegal aliens.
They dislike Medicare Advantage because it's a private- sector solution. It currently serves more than 8 million seniors, about 18% of the eligible population.
Democrats want to expand SCHIP to cover families earning up to three times the poverty level and "children" up to the age of 25. Last year, almost 700,000 adults were enrolled in this program designed to help insure children of the working poor. Adults with SCHIP coverage outnumbered children in three states.
Requiring proof of citizenship for enrollment in the program is an option left to the states. This feature will be touted as an act of compassion, providing care to those who need it. But in reality it will be a huge carrot to illegal immigrants who in many border states have brought health care systems to the breaking point.
Adding in the children of illegal aliens would also complicate the Democrats' plan to extend coverage to 70% of America's children. This expansion of SCHIP will allow children who now have private health insurance to opt for the federally subsidized program.
The Department of Health and Human Services conservatively estimates that the expanded SCHIP will cause 1.6 million people to drop their private coverage and let the federal Treasury pick up the tab.
The Congressional Budget Office reckons that for every 100 children who will be enrolled in the new SCHIP, 25 to 50 will jump ship and drop their private coverage.
And why not? Why pay for your own insurance when you can get the government to get your neighbors to help pick up the tab? In 2005, 77% of children in families with incomes double or triple the poverty level had private insurance. That percentage will drop under the new SCHIP.
How ironic that Democrats are pushing a program to subsidize those who can afford private insurance while cutting funds for seniors. But, heck, a government program that increases the size of government and damages the private sector -- that's a Democrat's dream.
