Action Alert:
Urge Congress to Protect
Children in Health Reform
As Congress works to reform our nation’s health care system, millions of children are in danger of losing coverage. Help increase awareness of this critical issue by forwarding this statement of principles (below) to your Senators and Representatives.
Find your Members of Congress:
Template Message:
Copy and paste the following message into to the email you send your Member of Congress.
Dear (Member of Congress):
A healthy America starts with healthy children. As Congress reforms our nation’s health care system, I urge you to acknowledge the unique health needs of children by remembering to:
• Do No Harm to Children. Nearly one-third of our nation’s children get their health care through Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Congress must protect and strengthen health coverage for these vulnerable children, not undermine it or increase costs.
• Protect Employer Coverage. Over one-half of America’s children have employer-sponsored insurance. Congress should reduce out-of-pocket costs for family and dependent coverage instead of disproportionately taxing those benefits.
• Insure All Children. Six million children are eligible but not enrolled in public health coverage. Eliminating red tape and bureaucracy by simplifying enrollment would be the cheapest, quickest, and smartest first step to get the lowest-income kids covered.
• Cover Kids from Head to Toe. All children need coverage for preventive care, as well as for their developmental, dental, and mental health care needs.
Sincerely, (Your Name)
Additional Resources:
Visit First Focus's Health Reform Resource Page to find additional resources about protecting the needs of children in national health reform efforts.
