Healthy "Kids" (buying, subsidized, wages)

[FiveHorses]

Originally Posted by sgthoskins

Oh no it's always "for the children".

There's an interesting sociological aspect to this extension of the program and it's this:

Are NH residents now supposed to swallow the fact that a human being from the legal age of majority (18) up until the age of 26 is/can be now considered "a child"?! Leave the income side out of it for a minute....

26?!

As a parent, I am truly at a loss for words over this one.

[nicolem]

Originally Posted by mike0421

The OP mentions the expansion of benefits in this program to cover those up to 26 years of age, making 43k a year. The expansion of this existing program, was the initial grievance. And that expansion of benefits has to be taken from other citizens. I don't want to speak for Nicole, but I will speak for myself: I have no more money to give in the form of higher taxes to pay for HHS programs any longer.

Actually, I feel exactly the same way.


HHS is 50% of our state budget and only a few people have an issue with it. Healthy kids will cover people up to age 26.

How long before it is changed to "Healthy People" which would be mandated state insurance for all with once again the few paying all the costs and the rest of the people reaping all the benefits.

I pay a lot for insurance through my husband's employer-high monthly rate, including a large deductible and large co insurance amounts. I have no desire for government run insurance because no doubt that is where this is heading-it will cost even more than I currently pay for less coverage.

Doesn't anyone see that is where we are heading? Is cradle to grave really what everyone wants? Do we want to continue to reward failure and punish success? Healthy Kids will be from 0-26, so it won't be a big deal throwing on a few more decades and calling it Healthy People, right?

[Slalom]

Originally Posted by FiveHorses

A) Is not having insurance contagious?! Is it like cooties?! What sort of ridiculous example is that?

You're missing my point. A child without health insurance is more likely NOT to have immunizations, and is more likely not to be treated for contagious illnesses such as strep throat. That's why I'm grateful that EVERY child in NH can have health insurance and can thus be seen by a doctor in the event that they are ill. A child who has a bad cough can be seen by a doctor to determine whether it's just a cold or actually whooping cough. A child with a rash can be seen by a doctor to tell whether it's an allergic reaction or chicken pox. That's my point. Not that not having health insurance is contagious.

[Slalom]

Originally Posted by mike0421

The OP mentions the expansion of benefits in this program to cover those up to 26 years of age, making 43k a year. The expansion of this existing program, was the initial grievance. And that expansion of benefits has to be taken from other citizens. I don't want to speak for Nicole, but I will speak for myself: I have no more money to give in the form of higher taxes to pay for HHS programs any longer.

Yes, I do agree that the income levels are too generous for the adults. I was responding to earlier statements such as this:

Originally Posted by nicolem

It is bad enough we have Healthy Kids-which is just a feel good name for me paying for your kid...

BTW-I am totally against this Healthy Kids-I don't think it should exist for ANYONE...

Originally Posted by nicolem

Health care is not a right and tax dollars should not be used for health care for anyone. Anyone who supports Healthy Kids and programs like it can take their OWN money and donate to it. The rest of us should not have to pay for things that are not provided for in the constitution.

I don't understand why people don't realize that society as a whole benefits from keeping communicable diseases at bay.

And it was the statement that we should only pay for things provided for in the constitution that led me to bring up schools and roads. Apparently the anti-healthcare people don't like others pointing out the obvious, though. Roads and bridges are A-OK, I guess.

[GreenGene]

Originally Posted by nicolem

Here is one article on this:
Concord Monitor - Lynch urges health aid for young adults

Have people taken the time to read the article?

"Young adults would be able to purchase low-cost, comprehensive health insurance through a state plan under the terms of a bill with broad support in the state Senate.

"Gov. John Lynch testified yesterday in favor of the legislation, which would allow adults between the ages of 19 and 26 who earn less than $43,000 a year to sign up for the Healthy Kids insurance plan. Premiums would be less than $200 a month and would cover medical and dental care and prescription drugs."

No, they are not considering people 19 to 26 to be children.

"Yesterday's hearing featured enthusiastic testimony from the governor, legislators from both chambers, the president of Healthy Kids, and commissioners from the Health and Human Services and Insurance departments."

Sounds like many of YOUR elected representatives like the proposal. Time to move?

"The age group eligible for the plan is the sector of New Hampshire's population with the lowest rate of insurance. Estimates vary, but there are about 22,000 young adults without insurance, according to a 2007 study from the New Hampshire Center for Public Policy Studies. Healthy Kids President Gretchen McFarland said she estimates 2,000 adults would sign up in the first years of the program."

Sounds reasonable to me.

And here's the kicker......

"Healthy Kids is available to uninsured children, with premium subsidies from the federal and state governments through the federal State Children's Health Insurance Program, or SCHIP. The proposed program would require adults to pay the full cost of their premiums, meaning there would be no cost to the state."

Whoops!

[nicolem]

Originally Posted by GreenGene

Have people taken the time to read the article?

"Young adults would be able to purchase low-cost, comprehensive health insurance through a state plan under the terms of a bill with broad support in the state Senate.

"Gov. John Lynch testified yesterday in favor of the legislation, which would allow adults between the ages of 19 and 26 who earn less than $43,000 a year to sign up for the Healthy Kids insurance plan. Premiums would be less than $200 a month and would cover medical and dental care and prescription drugs."

No, they are not considering people 19 to 26 to be children.

"Yesterday's hearing featured enthusiastic testimony from the governor, legislators from both chambers, the president of Healthy Kids, and commissioners from the Health and Human Services and Insurance departments."

Sounds like many of YOUR elected representatives like the proposal. Time to move?

"The age group eligible for the plan is the sector of New Hampshire's population with the lowest rate of insurance. Estimates vary, but there are about 22,000 young adults without insurance, according to a 2007 study from the New Hampshire Center for Public Policy Studies. Healthy Kids President Gretchen McFarland said she estimates 2,000 adults would sign up in the first years of the program."

Sounds reasonable to me.

And here's the kicker......

"Healthy Kids is available to uninsured children, with premium subsidies from the federal and state governments through the federal State Children's Health Insurance Program, or SCHIP. The proposed program would require adults to pay the full cost of their premiums, meaning there would be no cost to the state."

Whoops!

Actually-No-there is no whoops. As I stated in my first post-The Healthy Kids program is subsidized by federal and state tax dollars. The adults will pay under $200 a month for the PREMIUM. The pool that they are entering-from which the bills are paid out of-that pool is subsidized by Federal and State tax dollars-it says so right in the article. So yes taxpayers are subsidizing this. If they aren't going to cost the taxpayers a dime, why not have their own pool instead of entering one that is subsidized by taxpayers?

And regarding your dig at "time to move"- don't know if you thought you were being funny or witty- but actually it is time to vote these clowns out of office.

[bignhfamily]

NH Healthy Kids is not just a hand out program. It was designed for working families and part of the current requirement is that the insured is under 19 years old. There is the Healthy Kids Silver that provides affordable insurance paid for by the parent (there is also co-pays for office visits and prescriptions) and Healthy Kids Buy-In that does not receive any state or federal funding.
I, for one, have no problem supporting this program as it stands now. I do have a problem with extending the benifits to anybody other than minors though. The kid we save today might be the doctor that saves us tomorrow.
Oh and for the record - I'm a conservative republican with 4 children covered on my wifes insurance through her nursing job.

[renlouis]

I love this forum - the people on it have been so friendly and warm and my desire to move to NH has increased since getting to know some of you. But I must say I am always shocked by how otherwise wonderful people can have so little compassion for the underprivileged. No, I'm not talking about 19 - 26 y.o.'s who make 41,000/yr - I'm talking about the people that the Healthy Kids program was obviously meant to serve - THE REAL, UNDERPRIVILEGED KIDS - the one's whose parents otherwise wouldn't be taking them to the doctor when they are sick because it is ridiculously expensive and they need to choose between putting food on the table this week/paying the electric bill/ or getting their kid diagnosed and treated. I can understand the argument against the "fluff" (the young adults part or the people who take advantage), but the need for a program like this is REAL. What we should really be frustrated with IS the fluff and the taking advantage - NOT the fact that our tax dollars subsidize a program that allows underprivileged children to get health care!

And just for the record, I'm an independent voter (with 2 children covered by my husband's employer) from Texas, but I love NH!! And also, BTW, we pay a boat-load of taxes, but I consider myself lucky to make the kind of income that requires us to pay boat-loads of taxes!! Think of all the little kids getting vaccinated who otherwise wouldn't be because my husband and I are lucky enough to have great jobs!

[Verseau]

Originally Posted by AngelaK

Wow....what has this forum turned into? I once enjoyed it as a supportive, interesting, and fun place to be.............but this has definitely gone over the edge!

Absolutely. It's disgusting how politicized and venomous this place has become. There are much better places for the kind of mouth-foaming attacks I see here now.

I come back from time to time to check on threads from those asking for advice, but unfortunately it seems like almost every thread is hijacked and deterioriates into a ridiculous debate.

[GreenGene]

Originally Posted by nicolem

Actually-No-there is no whoops. As I stated in my first post-The Healthy Kids program is subsidized by federal and state tax dollars. The adults will pay under $200 a month for the PREMIUM. The pool that they are entering-from which the bills are paid out of-that pool is subsidized by Federal and State tax dollars-it says so right in the article. So yes taxpayers are subsidizing this. If they aren't going to cost the taxpayers a dime, why not have their own pool instead of entering one that is subsidized by taxpayers?

Hey, it's possible the article is wrong, but when it says, very clearly, there will be no cost to the state, I take that to mean no cost to the taxpayer.

Yes, the Healthy Kids program is supported by federal and state funds. However, the article also says:

"Premiums in the program are low because it enrolls a large number of children, who tend to be healthier than older adults. The bill would allow young adults, who also tend to be healthy, to take advantage of the administrative structure and the negotiated discounts that already exist."

So the premium is covered in full by the young adult, and the program - already funded by federal and state governments - provides the administrative overhead and negotiated discounts.

I went looking for the bill - I think it's SB115 - here's the text:

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Nine

AN ACT relative to eligibility for the healthy kids program.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1 New Subparagraph; Healthy Kids Program; Individuals Under 26 Years of Age. Amend RSA 126-H:5, I by inserting after subparagraph (i) the following new subparagraph:

(j) Establish a program, with appropriate safeguards to prevent adverse risk selection, by which individuals under 26 years of age, who cannot be included in their family’s insurance plan, and whose incomes are at or below 400 percent of the federal poverty level, may purchase health insurance from the healthy kids corporation.

2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

The way I read this is that the young adults will be able to take advantage of a program that already exists, and will be able to purchase health insurance at no cost to the state (i.e., taxpayer).

I'm sure that, given your level of concern with this proposal, you've done some research into this. Have you found anything that specifically states that the taxpayers are going to be hit with additional taxes for this?