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Home > News > Overwhelming Majority Support Providing Health Care Access for All of Ohio’s Uninsured Children | ||||||||||||||||||
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The Campaign to Protect Ohio’s Future released poll results today showing that 87 percent of Ohio voters believe that providing health care access for all of Ohio’s children should be a spending priority of the State of Ohio, and nearly 5 out of 10 voters believe it should be a “top spending priority.” The results come after the Ohio House of Representatives passed its version of the budget which includes funding to expand Medicaid/SCHIP eligibility for children to 300% of the federal poverty level (FPL) but eliminates language allowing the state to provide access to health care for all of Ohio’s uninsured children.
In addition to raising the eligibility level to 300% FPL, Governor Ted Strickland had proposed a “premium participation program” which would have allowed uninsured children in families with incomes over 300 percent of the federal poverty level to buy into Medicaid/SCHIP on a sliding fee scale, with those at higher incomes paying the full cost. The program is especially important for children with special health care needs for whom private coverage is denied, unavailable, or extremely expensive. Over 20,000 of uninsured Ohio children live in families at this income level. John Corlett, co-chair of the Campaign to Protect Ohio’s Future praised the House for taking an important step by raising the Medicaid/SCHIP level. “This change can help up to 32,000 Ohio children gain health coverage.” But he expressed disappointment that the House passed budget failed to include language that would have allowed the state to cover Ohio’s remaining uninsured children. “We know the overwhelming majority of Ohioans; whether Republican or Democrat, whether conservative or liberal, whether they live in cities or rural areas, believes state policy makers should make access to health care for all children a state budget priority.” More and more, it is middle class families who are feeling the squeeze of health coverage costs. The Novak family of Lebanon know this well. This middle class family testified before the OhioHouse Finance Committee that when they sought coverage for their three year-old son who has Down Syndrome, they received six quotes ranging from $1200-1800 for monthly premiums. This is in addition to the monthly premiums they already pay to cover themselves and their other two children. Their son is temporarily on Medicaid while the Department of Job and Family Services determines whether he qualifies for Medicaid based on his disability. However, even if he qualifies for Medicaid, the families’ spend-down will be very high because they will have to meet the disability income standard of 64% of the federal poverty level. Without the expansion to 300% of FPL, their 3-year-old will be without health coverage. And, as small business owners, as their business grows, they could lose Medicaid/SCHIP coverage if their income creeps over the 300% limit, and still find coverage either unavailable, or unaffordable for their uninsured 3-year-old. Mary Wachtel, Director of Public Policy for Voices for Ohio’s Children, added, “The good news is, the goal of providing health care access to all of Ohio’s uninsured children—a goal which the public overwhelmingly supports--is within our reach. We hope the Senate will restore the proposed premium participation program and provide hope to the Novak family and the thousands of other Ohio families whose children lack access to health coverage.” The poll of 702 Ohio voters was conducted for the Campaign to Protect Ohio’s Future between April 23 and 26 by the Benenson Strategy Group. The crosstabs for the question can be found in the link to the right. Director of Public Policy 614-648-1450 mwachtel@vfc-oh.org |
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