Press Release
For Immediate Release: February 4, 2009
Contact: Adam J. Segal • 202.422.4673
media@hispanichealth.org
1.5 million uninsured Hispanic children will receive coverage
WASHINGTON, DC - "Today President Obama made a significant downpayment on his commitment to make health insurance accessible for all, said Dr. Jane L. Delgado, President and CEO of the National Alliance for Hispanic Health, the nation's leading Hispanic health advocacy group. This afternoon, the President signed into law legislation to reauthorize the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).
"President Obama's signature makes law today a health bill that reflects our values as a nation," said Dr. Delgado who attended the ceremony for the bill signing in the East Room of the White House. Throughout the SCHIP debate by the 111th Congress, leaders of Alliance member organizations advocated for priorities that included coverage for legal immigrant children and pregnant women and financing through a 61 cent increase in the federal tobacco tax to $1 - both are a part of today's legislation signed by the President.
"All children deserve the opportunity of a healthy start in life and SCHIP is a smart use of public funds. Under the SCHIP reauthorization, the annual cost to provide health insurance to an additional 4 million children in modest-income families is less than half the $18 billion recently reported that Wall Street executives paid themselves in bonuses," emphasized Dr. Delgado.
As the President signed his first health care bill into law, the Alliance announced projections that the expanded SCHIP program will cover an additional 1.5 million uninsured Hispanic children. Previous figures released by Families USA estimated that the program acted on today will cover approximately one in two children currently without health insurance.
The Alliance today also announced the availability of support for families seeking information or assistance in signing up for SCHIP and other health insurance programs for which they may be eligible. By calling the Alliance's toll-free Su Familia National Hispanic Family Health Helpline (1-866-783-2645 or 1-866-SU-FAMILIA) callers can speak to a health promotion advisor in Spanish or English to get answers to their questions and assistance with SCHIP eligibility.
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About the National Alliance for Hispanic Health
The National Alliance for Hispanic Health is the nation's foremost source of information and trusted advocate for the health of Hispanics in the United States. The Alliance represents thousands of Hispanic health providers across the nation providing services to more than 15 million each year, making a daily difference in the lives of Hispanic communities and families. For more information, visit http://www.hispanichealth.org or call the Alliance's Su Familia National Hispanic Family Health Helpline at 1-866-783-2645.
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