Today, February 4, President Obama signed the Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act (CHIPRA).  This followed passage of the bill by the House of Representatives (vote of 290 - 135) which was identical to one approved by the Senate last week (vote of  66 to 32).  The new law has several provisions long championed by the March of Dimes including expanding access to coverage for millions of uninsured children and pregnant women. 

March of Dimes volunteers from across the country contacted their elected representatives to ask them for their support of the legislation.  Following today's House action, Speaker Nancy Pelosi invited a few of our volunteers to represent the millions of families who have relied upon CHIP or Medicaid. Among them were the children of Kathy Paz Mingledorff who shared her story at a press event in January and Heather Kane whose story appears below.

Later in the afternoon, March of Dimes President Dr. Jennifer Howse was there when President Obama signed the legislation into law celebrating this important victory for the nation's children and pregnant women.

Why is health insurance important?

The March of Dimes supports access to health coverage for all women of childbearing age, infants and children.  That's why the March of Dimes has championed reauthorizing and strengthening the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) since 2007.

The new bill should increase federal support so that states have the resources they need to enroll eligible uninsured children; cover eligible pregnant women without needing a federal waiver; enroll legal immigrant children and pregnant women if they meet the program's criteria and develop and measure the quality of pediatric care.

If there is any question as to why health insurance matters, read the stories of four very different families whose lives have depended on it.