In February, Congress passed and President Obama signed a bill expanding the State Child Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) to cover 4 million more children, a bill that Congress passed twice two years ago but vetoed each time by then-President Bush. This is impressive progress, but it is not the comprehensive health reform that we need, nor does it fulfill the promise that President Obama made on the campaign trail of health coverage for every child in America. Considering that the bill was intended to pass under President Bush, more reform is definitely possible.
Now is the time for real reform, not incrementation. 6 million children are still left without health coverage under the current system, and millions more are under-insured with coverage that falls short of children’s health needs. The under-insurance issue is a real problem and works to mask the real face of health care in America. Consider the story of Deamonte Driver, a 12 year old from Maryland who died February 25, 2007 of a toothache. He couldn’t find a dentist who would accept Medicaid and his mother couldn’t afford an $80 tooth extraction. But his condition soon took a turn for the worse when he was rushed to surgery, where it was discovered that the bacteria from his abscessed tooth had infected his brain. Heroic efforts were made to save him, including two operations and eight weeks of additional care and therapy, totaling about $250,000. Unfortunately, it was all too late.
The outrage is that Deamonte’s life could have been saved by a routine dental visit and an inexpensive extraction, if only Medicaid’s reimbursement rates to providers weren’t so low, causing Medicaid providers to be extremely scarce.
Deamonte’s story illustrates not only the immoral and barbaric nature of the system even for those who are insured, but the sheer stupidity of it, economically speaking. In Deamonte’s case, the numbers are almost too much to believe – would you rather pay $80 to save a boy’s life or pay $250,000 in hospital costs and still lose him? This is a story that turns into a pattern when the system is examined.
Prevention costs far less then illness, and primary care doctor vists cost less then emergency rooms. According to the Children’s Defense Fund, every $1 spent on vaccinations saves $16 in later costs to the community. Uninsured children cost the local community $2,100 more than a child with Medicaid or SCHIP. At least 40 states are facing budget shortfalls this year; many are considering cutting programs that will affect low-income children’s or families’ eligibility for health insurance. This is not only tragic but more costly for us in the long run. Covering all children will have positive stimulative effects on the economy by not wasting resources in this manner.
Covering all children will also have positive effects in many other areas. It has long been known that healthy children do better in school. Those children without health coverage are also often those most in need of mental health services, as children often come to school from dysfunctional or damaging environments not conducive to learning. A congressional study a few years ago found that there were currently 15,000 children in the juvenile justice system due solely to the lack of community mental health services. Making those services available will reduce strain on the justice system while increasing student achievement.
Covering all children will also greatly reduce the burden on parents—especially homeowners. The number one cause of bankruptcy in the country is a medical emergency, and almost half of people with homes in foreclosure named medical problems as a cause. And it is in line with free market principles. When parents don’t have to consider whether they should take or stay in a job due solely to health benefits for their children (or themselves), they have more freedom as economic actors.
Full disclosure: I have founded a group on campus this semester called Students Advocating for Youth (SAY), which is affiliated with the Children’s Defense Fund. CDF is the foremost proponent of policies and programs that provide children with the resources they need to succeed. CDF and SAY believe that all children need affordable, comprehensive, and seamless health coverage.
We also believe that in the upcoming health care reform bill, children may be left out. As I noted at the beginning, many in Washington believe the SCHIP expansion was enough, but it is not. That is why we are collecting letters to send to President Obama to tell him that ALL children need health coverage. We will be collecting letters in the Union until reading day. If inspired, I hope that you will contribute a handwritten letter. Ensuring health coverage for all children is a key moral test of the nation – one that I am confident we can pass.
David Poms ’10 is a sociology major from Bethesda, Md. Contact him at dapoms@davidson.edu.
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