Main Street

Making the case for children’s health insurance

by Kristin Fine—Ohio

As I was canvassing I came upon a house that reminded me much of the house I grew up in. When the couple answered the door, they were accompanied by four young children, all boisterous and hyper as children often are. As I was telling them about Bush’s veto of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, they interrupted me by asking how it affected them, because their children had health insurance that wasn’t in jeopardy of being taken away like the 4 million children we are fighting for. I answered in a way I had never tried before. I told them about my experience growing up in a family of five and how if we hadn’t had health insurance, we would probably be in massive debt right now. Why? Because kids are kids, and kids do crazy things and get hurt! And if you are not covered by your parents’ health insurance, your parents have to pay HUGE amounts of money to take you to the emergency room or to the doctor if and when something happens.

After I put the necessity of the program in this perspective, both the husband and the wife completely understood and agreed with me wholeheartedly. Not only did they sign up as members, but they made a dues donation as well. To make it even better, they each wrote letters—complete with hand-drawn pictures by their kids!

If letters like these don’t change hearts and minds in our country, I don’’t know what will.

Tags: children, Health Care, SCHIP, taking action