Which Child Would We Ask To Go Without Health Coverage?

SCHIP is a federal/state specific program for healthcare coverage of children who fall between the cracks. It is for families who do not qualify for Medicaid and don’t have insurance coverage because of circumstances beyond their control. Many users of this program are unexpected users as this story demonstrates: Beatrice lost her husband to death. The family now had to deal with the fact that they no longer had health insurance. With five children, just the cost of preventive care would have bankrupted the newly single mother. Fortunately, they were able to enroll in CHIP (the Utah program). This provided a safety net in case of an emergency. When she remarried the children came off the program and they were covered by her second husband’s health insurance plan. This story could be the case of any of our families here at Nativity, including families whose major provider loses her or his job.

For more information on the status of the SCHIP bill in Congress pick up a brochure at the Social Justice bulletin board in the northeast entryway or check the social justice blog on our parish website www.nativitycatholicchurch.net

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) tell us “Catholic teaching insists that access to adequate health care is a basic human right, necessary for the development and maintenance of life and for the ability of human beings to realize the fullness of their dignity. The USCCB has consistently worked for access to affordable health care for all, in a way that reflects a priority concern for the poor.” (See USCCB statements Health and Health Care and A Framework for Comprehensive Health Care Reform)