Beginning July 1, a new law in South Dakota will expand the South Dakota High Risk Pool to children with preexisting conditions that may not be able to get coverage any other way.

The law will help to cover approximately 455 children that are under the age of 19 who are considered medically uninsurable.  Governor Mike Rounds explains that “Every child in South Dakota should have health insurance, and now every child can. The South Dakota High Risk Pool will begin taking applications today for children who have been without health care coverage.”

The open enrollment period is from July 1 through August 29 and allows any child who has been without health insurance coverage for 12 months or longer can enroll without a pre-existing condition waiting period. Other requirements include:

Younger than 19
U.S. citizens
South Dakota residents

Monthly premiums range from $125 to $240 a month for children who qualify for the South Dakota Risk Pool. Deductibles range from $1,000 to $10,000 a year.

Though 455 children does not seem like a lot, especially compared to the 200,000 uninsured children in the state of South Dakota, but it’s a start and South Dakota is definitely making a positive stand for uninsured children.

“Providing health care to more than ten million children through the Children’s Health Insurance Program will serve as a down payment on my commitment to ensure that every American has access to quality, affordable health care,” said President Barack Obama. He also stated that “As the worsening economy causes families to lose their jobs and health insurance, it is vital that we redouble our efforts to ensure that every child in America has access to affordable health care. That is why I am pleased that the Senate has joined the House in passing bipartisan legislation to provide health insurance to children whose families have been hurt most by this downturn.”

The Senate passing of legislation that will provide government-sponsored health care to approximately 4 million uninsured children is the start of Obama’s health care overhaul. The bill was approved yesterday 66 to 32 and will insure children in families that earn too much to qualify for Medicaid but not enough to afford private health insurance, increasing the amount of children who will be covered from 7 million to 4 million. The joint state-federal program will cost an additional $32.8 billion on top of the $25 billion over the next 4 ½ years. The expansion would be paid for by raising the cigarette tax from 39 cents a pack to $1.

“Low-income, uninsured kids all across America have been waiting for Congress to fulfill the promise of the Children’s Health Insurance Program for them,” said Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus. The House passed a nearly identical bill a few weeks ago with a vote of 289 to 139.

Similar legislation had been vetoed twice by former President George W. Bush. On the other hand, President Obama is eager to sign the legislation to begin the coverage that will hopefully lead to coverage for all Americans.

Yesterday, the House passed a bill to expand the children’s health insurance program. The State Children’s Health Insurance Program (or SCHIP) is a federal program that gives funds to the states to provide health insurance to families with children. The program was designed for low income families that do not qualify for Medicaid. The House vote was 289 to 139.

Similar legislation has been vetoed before by the Bush Administration but the bill that was passed yesterday would extend to cover more than 4 million uninsured children.  The bill includes an additional $33 billion to be spent to insure children over the next 4 ½ years.

President-elect Barack Obama stated after the legislation was passed:

In this moment of crisis, ensuring that every child in America has access to affordable health care is not just good economic policy, but a moral obligation we hold as parents and citizens. That is why I’m so pleased that Democrats and Republicans in the House of Representatives came together to provide health insurance to over ten million children whose families have been hurt most by this downturn. This coverage is critical, it is fully paid for, and I hope that the Senate acts with the same sense of urgency so that it can be one of the first measures I sign into law when I am President.

The bill would be financed by an increase in tobacco taxes, including a 61-cent increase in the tax on cigarettes, to $1 pack.

Democrats believe that the current economic state of the country calls for the expansion of children’s health insurance. Many people have lost their jobs this year, and the number of unemployed has increased by 50% since last year. When people lose their jobs, they lose their health insurance which therefore means their children don’t have health insurance.

“At a time of rising unemployment, this legislation is more important than ever,” said Representative Mike McMahon, a Democrat from New York.