Mixed Messages

The House Republican Leadership vowed that Health Care was one of their top priorities this session. But two bills carried by House Leaders send conflicting views.

Rep. Curtis, who is the Speaker of the House, is carrying a bill (HB326) that would remove the enrollment cap currently placed on CHIP (Children's Health Insurance Program). The program is capped between 45-48,000 kids. But Utah has roughly 90,000 uninsured kids, many of which are eligible for the program. Source This bill is a great step toward getting all Utah kids health insurance.

Unfortunately, another member of the House Leadership is carrying a bill that would make some of those kids ineligible for CHIP. Rep. Clark's HB 133 has a provision in it excluding children from CHIP if their parents are enrolled in UPP (Utah's Premium Partnership of Health Insurance). UPP closes the gap for people that can't quite pay for health insurance. Maybe a parent could afford health insurance for them self, but not for them and their kids with UPP. CHIP would then be in place to cover their children. If this bill passes parents lose that option. I think CHIP is a good program, and I hate to see kids go uninsured that are eligible.