SCHIP: Parents Not Legally Obligated To Support Their Minor Children

With the SCHIP program, parents with assets accessible to do so are not legally obligated to protect their minor children’s health by providing them insurance. As this Kaiser 2006 survey of all the states details, in all but three states a family’s assets are not considered at all in determining eligibility for SCHIP. (As I pointed out here Maryland, home of the Frost’s, and California, my home, do not consider assets in qualification for SCHIP.)

The National Academy for State Health Policy’s website for SCHIP says, “Asset tests in SCHIP programs are rare – reinforcing the idea that states view covering children an important policy goal.”

Apparently the government and its taxpayers’ responsibility for the children of parents who have adequate assets to provide for their children’s health care coverage is a more important “policy goal” than parental responsibility.

The New York Times says it’s a “Capitol Feud: A 12-Year-Old Is the Fodder.” I say it’s a National Disgrace: Children and Taxpayers Are The Fodder. Irresponsible parents and their cultural and political enablers are the culprits.