MASON CITY – Democratic Iowa Senator Amanda Ragan is calling on citizens to demand that their federal legislators continue a children’s insurance program.
Federal funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program is set to expire at the end of September. Ragan said Friday in a bulletin.
“I am calling on the U.S. Congress to reauthorize it, and encourage you to join me,” she said.
“The money Iowa gets from the Children’s Health Insurance Program goes to Healthy and Well Kids in Iowa, or Hawk-I. Hawk-I ensures low-income families get health care for their children so that they grow up healthy and ready to succeed. It is an investment in our kids and Iowa’s future,” she continued.
“Since 1999, Hawk-I has provided good care while being cost effective. Iowa offers Hawk-I health coverage for uninsured children of working families. Families that qualify for Hawk-I contribute to their health care costs on a sliding scale, based on their income. With Hawk-I, kids can go to the doctor, get immunizations and fill prescriptions.
“Thousands of Iowa children benefit from Hawk-I, including 450 in Butler County, 982 in Cerro Gordo County and 300 in Franklin County. Without it, many families will be forced to make impossible choices that could mean their kids don’t get critical health care when they it.
“The Children’s Health Insurance Program has won bipartisan support in Congress for 20 years as a way to keep kids healthy. Join me in encouraging our U.S. Congressman and Senators to extend the Children’s Health Insurance Program for five years.”
Contact your federal rep’s here:
- Rep. Steve King, (202) 225-4426. Rep. King voted “no” on CHIP reauthorization in 2015.
- Sen. Chuck Grassley, (202) 224-3744. Sen. Grassley voted “yes” on CHIP reauthorization in 2015.
- Sen. Joni Ernst, (202) 224-3254. Sen. Ernst voted “yes” on CHIP reauthorization in 2015.
I would bet 40% of the population pay for the other 60% insurance – think not? Do a little research – why should our elected fat cat officals and public servants care about health insurance costs for the working middle class – IT’S FREE for them and screw you unlucky saps.
PS – that should have been medicare not medicaid insurance for seniors – The Illegals get the free ride on medicaid insurance paid for by you the working poor.
If you were of retirement age YOU would KNOW that medicaid is connected to social security which I PAID into for over 40 years AND even when you retire you HAVE to pay for medicaid insurance (about 10% of your SS retirement check for the base -if you enroll in other SS insurance options it costs maybe 400/500 per month out of your SS check – AND AND besides that you will need supplemental private insurance from like Mutual of Omaha that costs about 200 per month for retired people on SS. So don’t tell me it FREE ! By the way the Government wants to open up medicare to people that are not retired – even Illegals – We call these people Anti American Tyrants – another name for traitors. We don;t need no stinkin Merkel policies in America.
here’s an idea Amanda require the elected senators and congressmen to cut their health care plan to fund this. it’s time they take a few hits on their Cadillac perks
oh, we forgot to include the state elected representatives. time for you to be a leader and put your perks on the line also
I think Senator Ragan is one of the very few state legislators not taking the cheap state insurance–remember last year when it all came up?
Obama stole 7 billion dollars from Medicare to pay for his Obamanation called Obamacare for all the freeloaders and their many, many children.
LVS you dumbass
You just can’t stand the truth can you stupid?
You just can’t stand the truth can you stupid?
Hey Mandy, great idea. Now, what are you going to cut to pay for it? Or are you going to raise taxes? You do know our debt is circa 20 Trillion don’t you? And you do know your boy obama is responsible for over half don’t you? YOU LIBS ARE GREAT AT SPENDING OTHER PEOPLES MONEY!!!
and you are great at being stupid.
You have a corner on stupid!
Its easy Amanda, get a job and they can buy their own. I am TIRED of paying for everybody else.
People have choices, maybe you should not have a handful of kids if you cannot afford them.
Being self responsible works every time
“Its easy Amanda, get a job and they can buy their own.”
What part of this do you not comprehend?
“Iowa offers Hawk-I health coverage for uninsured children of working families.
Families that qualify for Hawk-I contribute to their health care costs on a sliding scale, based on their income.”
Less than 30% of Iowa employers with less than 50 employees provide any sort of health insurance.
But the heck with the kids, eh?
what part do you not comprehend? The healthcare cost are the same for everybody. Yes its a sliding scale of rates, and who picks up the difference, the taxpayer.
How many of these people who cant afford health insurance smoke and drink?
I raised my kids, why do I ha raise and pay for yours?
Your not paying for mine kids bucko, I have insurance.
The “How many of these people who cant afford health insurance smoke and drink?” is feeble.If you want to travel down that road, how many that have insurance drive up the costs by being overweight, or any other unhealthy lifestyles?
While you are at it, might as well get rid of the elderly as they accrue much in the way of healthcare costs, hell ya get rid of Medicare too.
I agree, healthcare needs serious reform, but the answer of depriving little children healthcare is beyond absurd, it is asinine.
You probably also believe that if you don’t have kids or they are grown that you should not have to pay taxes for schools, eh?
man, your picking all the government beauties. Public education in the US is the highest price in the world. For that, we rank I believe 17th in results. Another beautiful program. High price, poor results. Does that surprise anybody?
Hey fool, Medicare is paid for and continues to be paid for. If you libs would quit stealing from Social Security there would never be a problem with it.
^^ anonymous September 16, 2017 at 6:41 am
Ah LVS you ignorant old idiot.
“Medicare is paid for and continues to be paid for”
And how is that paid for pray tell?
Are you really that ignorant? It is deducted from every “working” man and woman’s paycheck. It was deducted from mine for over 50 years of working. at the rate of 14% per pay check. Retired people continue to pay for medicare at the rate of $110 per person, per month plus they pay for a supplemental at the rate of about $200 per person, per month. Of course you damn liberals can’t stand to see money sitting there so you continue to try to steal it from the people who paid to put it there. The party of criminals is a bunch of damn thieves,