"I Think We Can Carve Out $22 Million for Poor Children"

from WLTX

(Orangeburg) - An expansion of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP) is scheduled for this summer, however, the program has only received funding for the upcoming fiscal year.

"In a year when we have over a billion dollars in surplus, I think we should be able to carve out 22 million in recurring dollars for poor children," explained Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter.

S-CHIP provides medical coverage to uninsured children who do not qualify for Medicaid. Under the current program, children must live in a household with an income up to 150% percent of federal poverty level, which is $30,000 for a family of four. The expanded program would allow coverage for children in households making up to 200% percent of the poverty level.

"We have funded $22 million in this program, but it's one-time money," explained Cobb-Hunter, who wants the state to make a long-term commitment to the program. "I would hope the state of South Carolina wouldn't create the expectation by increasing coverage and say next year, 'Oh, by the way we aren't going to be able to do this.'"

"We wouldn't be able to have medical care if we didn't have this program," explained Veridee Hand, whose children are covered under Medicaid. A working mother-of-five, Hand says her she and her husband cannot afford to pay hundreds of dollars in insurance premiums each month. "When you don't have the major industries providing that health insurance then the state has to kick in and help."

Under explanded version of S-CHIP, families would be required to pay insurance premiums on a sliding scale based on income.

"We have a whole lot more kids in this state who can benefit from being covered," said Cobb-Hunter. "It is more important to me to cover poor children up 200% of poverty, than to give some person $3.80 back on an income tax return."