Senators Urged to Follow House Lead and Pass Inclusive SCHIP Bill

January 16, 2009

The U.S. Senate is considering a bill reauthorizing the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), a federal program that provides health insurance for millions of low-income children. NOW is pleased that the House version of SCHIP, which passed on Jan 14, included the Immigrant Children’s Health Improvement Act (ICHIA) as a provision of the bill. ICHIA would give states the option to receive federal matching dollars to provide health services to lawfully present immigrant children and pregnant women without the five year waiting period that is currently required by law.

This important legislation represents a critical opportunity for our nation to reduce the number of uninsured children and women in the country, a problem that is particularly acute among low-income immigrant children, almost half of whom currently have no health coverage. Some conservative Senators want to amend the bill to strip immigrant children from SCHIP coverage, and advocates are sending a strong message that we oppose those harmful efforts and support health care for low income, lawfully present immigrant children.

Read the letter to the Senate from the National Coalition for Immigrant Women's Rights (NCIWR).