WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Mike Michaud issued the following statement regarding House passage of H.R. 2, the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) Reauthorization, which will provide health care coverage for 11 million children – preserving coverage for the 7 million children currently covered by SCHIP and extending coverage to 4 million uninsured children who are currently eligible for, but not enrolled in, SCHIP and Medicaid. SCHIP was created in 1997 to provide health care coverage for children in families that earn too much to qualify for Medicaid, but not enough to afford private insurance, and has proved a successful and cost-effective program for providing health care.

“Today, more and more parents are having difficulty finding affordable health care for their children. Given the state of the economy coupled with rising unemployment, it is more important than ever that we provide affordable health insurance for children.  No child in Maine or anywhere throughout our nation should ever go without needed medical care.”

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