Health Affairs, 26, no. 2 (2007): 405-407 doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.26.2.405 © 2007 by Project HOPE	New Online   Pay Cuts For Medicare Docs   Access To Care Woes   Public Coverage More Efficient   Empowering Consumers

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Insurance Design

PERSPECTIVE

The Moral Case For Covering Children (And Everyone Else)

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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