Children’s Health-Care Myths-CHIP won’t be ended, though Democrats once said it should be

WSJ Editorial. Excerpts:

"The program known as CHIP was passed in the 1990s to offer health insurance to children in low- and middle-income families that earn too much to qualify for Medicaid. CHIP expired Sept. 30"

"House Republicans suggested paying for part of the program with slightly higher premiums for affluent Medicare beneficiaries. Democrats refused."

"Last week the Congressional Budget Office reduced the cost of a five-year extension to $800 million over 10 years from more than $8 billion. Here’s why: Republicans as part of tax reform zeroed out the ObamaCare penalty for declining to buy health insurance."

"CHIP crowds out private insurance. States can also set eligibility requirements that reach up to 405% of the poverty level, which means fewer resources for the truly needy. The program started as a partnership but in 2016 states pitched in less than $2 billion of the $15.6 billion total"

"Someone should track down Henry Waxman, the former Democratic Congressman who during the Affordable Care Act debates of 2009 told Kaiser Health News that “once health care reform is in place, however, the case for a separate program for children” that excludes parents is “less compelling.”"