The Moral Case for Covering Children

Abstract: Before the crucial upcoming debate over reauthorization of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) and all of the 10,000 general health reform questions that this discussion will engender, we should consider one fundamental moral question, for our answer will reveal the kinds of policies we actually want to pursue: Who should be allowed to sit at our health care table of plenty?

This essay sketches an answer to this question, drawing on the literature of various faith traditions as well as recent health services research. The short answer is: Everyone, but poor kids have a special place reserved for them.

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For the full text of this essay, please see the online reprint at HealthAffairs.org. (Access is free, but only when using the above link.)

For more on this issue and New America's work on it, please visit the links below:

• Overview: Covering Everyone
• Video: Len Nichols on the Importance of Universal Coverage (January 2007)
• Policy Paper: Mandatory, Affordable Health Insurance (January 2007)
• Policy Paper: Shared Responsibility to Cover California's Children (November 2005)
• Speech Text: Remarks of Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT) RegardingThe Future of the Children’s Health Insurance Program (March 2007)