Letter: Uninsured children cast aside by president

Monday, Oct. 1, 2007 | 7:02 a.m.

Regarding the Sept. 29 letter, "President supports insurance for kids," from Tevi D. Troy, deputy secretary of the U.S. Health and Human Services Department:

While the president says he supports the SCHIP program, he doesn't seem committed to funding the program where all eligible children will be included. The president's plan calls for a budget that, according to some in Congress, will leave hundreds of thousands without coverage.

Mr. Troy suggests that the congressional plan will "encourage middle class families - some earning more than $80,000 a year - to move their children from private health insurance to this public assistance program." That is ludicr ous.

First, a family earning more than the allowable income must apply for a waiver, which would be considered on a case-by-case basis in the state where the family resides. So there'd be no wholesale migration from private to public health care. Second, where waivers would be considered would be in states where the cost of living is high, for instance, parts of New York or California.

I'd ask Mr. Troy: Which parents in their right minds would trade private insurance - where they can choose doctors, get discounted prescriptions and a choice of hospitals - for a public assistance program, where they have no choice of physician, have to wait who knows how long for an appointment, and go where they're told by the government for care?

Mr. Troy goes on to say that financing this "expansion of government-run health care" would be by "imposing new taxes on those who can least afford it." I wonder who Mr. Troy was talking about? Congress has suggested increased funding by increasing the tobacco tax.

It's my belief that an ounce of prevention is worth a lot more than a pound of cure. By providing parents with an opportunity for preventive medical care for their children, we taxpayers will save a great deal more than if those parents wait for their children to get seriously ill.

Joel Rector, North Las Vegas