Obama government has taken quite a number of initiatives that can cause drastic positive changes to the socio-economical wellbeing of the country. Obama has signed the Stimulus bill in 2009 which includes the final approval for an extension of the health insurance programs to the children who belong to lower income groups.
Health of children, being one of the prior concerns in the American society, it is assumed that the State Children Health Insurance Program will provide desired coverage to them. This particular bill was detained by President Bush for two years with the cause of “government run health care for every American”.
The bill was supported and voted by 40 members of Republican Party and was opposed by 2 of the democrats. The bill is being deplored as the foundation for “socialized medicine” but it is passed with the mission of helping the children who belong to families of very low income.
The scanty income earned by these families is not sufficient to pay the insurance premiums for their kids. Those who are unable to afford the private insurance programs can always seek help from the State Children Health Insurance program. The government is anticipating that by the end of 2013, American states will be able to provide health coverage to about 4 million children who were uninsured.
The bill encompasses several drastic changes. The states are now allowed to cover the legal immigrants. Pregnant women and children below the age of 21 years are also covered under this program. Till date the legal immigrants were excluded from the coverage of Medicaid. In fact some of the families were earning too less to be approved for this facility.
Moreover the State Children’s Health Insurance Program was not applicable for the immigrants who were living in United States for less than 5 years. With the introduction of this new bill the states can now cover all of them without causing the unnecessary delay of five years.
There are certain clauses included in this bill which should be complied while granting the insurance facilities. The legal residents of America and the citizens are eligible for this program. Now according to the general procedures, the applicants need to provide certain document proving their residential status.
This bill gives an option to the state legislation wherein they can tally the “Social security number” and name of the applicant in order to verify the standing. Dental coverage is also provided under the program. The coverage can also replace the private insurance policies. The compactness of the policy is proven with its complete exposure to the mentally and physically challenged people.
The opinions about the probable success and utility of the new health insurance program differ radically. According to many republicans the bill is not adequately focused on facilitating coverage for the children below low income group. Moreover it is also assumed that more number of people will start declining the private insurance schemes in order to avail the state’s programs.
Coming days will surely prove the success rate of the policy but for the time being this is considered as a great initiative from the government’s end.
