Support needed for CHIP

I would like to thank Sen. Dan Weinberg, D-Whitefish, for sponsoring Senate Bill 22.

SB 22 would expand eligibility so that a family of three making about $30,000 a year would be eligible for CHIP. Currently the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) covers more than 13,000 Montana kids, but we still have 37,000 kids who remain uninsured, one in every six.

Montana has the fifth highest uninsured rate among kids and the second lowest eligibility level on CHIP. More than 90 percent of Montana's uninsured children come from working families.

CHIP is a smart investment in our children, families and communities. My children are covered by CHIP, and it has been a blessing to us.

A bill to increase the CHIP eligibility has been sitting in the House Appropriations Committee for more than a month.

Three members of that committee are from the Flathead: Bill Beck, R-White-fish; Janna Taylor, R-Proctor; and Craig Witte, R-Kalispell.

Hundreds of our hard-working neighbors depend on this program to get their children needed health-care. This is not a partisan issue; this is a family and community issue.

I hope that our legislators can voice the will of our community and support CHIP. Please contact these legislators today at 1-406-444-4800 and ask them to support Senate Bill 22.

Debbie McConnell

Whitefish