I don't think that even the evil conservatives on the hill are short sighted enough to temporarily end the CHIP program. Many of the problems associated with poor health care, if ignored, will cost much more to treat later. A child with lead poisoning can be a burden to society for the rest of their lives. It's good to see we are slowly moving to health care for all.

Finding funds for CHIP is not a problem. Since most health care problems are caused by greedy corporations, corporations should start paying their fair share of taxes to fund CHIP.

The op-ed makes some good points, but its focus is disappointing. Why should government insurance be the only vehicle for providing health care to children?

We live in a state blessed by an abundance of individuals who are willing to help out their neighbors in need. A large number of these people work in medicine.

We saw during the 2002 Olympics what this state can do through volunteering and charitable giving when a need arises. Certainly health care for children is a greater need than Olympic sports.

Why not then, as a society and as a state, commit ourselves to providing for uninsured children's health needs through charity health care clinics, many of which already exist in the state?

I'm not saying government should control charity health care. Nor am I saying that they should be giving tax funds to charity care clinics. I'm saying that government and elected officials could help these clinics coordinate their efforts, and could assist these clinics in raising funds. Not through raising taxes, but by acting in their leadership roles to encourage Utahns to give, and by enacting policies that encourage giving.

We'll never know what we can do until we try.

We wont need CHIP when we finally get the universal health care that everyone in this country deserves.

I pay for my own kids health insurance. Why doe my taxes go to pay for other peoples kids.Why can't they pay for there own.

Good for you Spanish Fork, glad you have enough money to pay for ever increasing costs of living AND helth insurance. Shouldn't we all be so lucky. If we require all the medical providers to provide volunteer services, all rates will go up to compensate from being to do their pro-bono work in Mexico or the Carribean. It seems suspect in itself that a child would have to go that long without insurance to have CHIP coverage. Sounds like they are doing their best to avoid to cover pre-existing conditions. All part of the great illusion that the Legislator cares without doing something meaningful.

It should be noted that CHIPS is welfare for people who are living ABOVE the already fairly generous federal "poverty level." Those whose income is below the poverty level have long qualified for Medicaid.

I agree with Derek Monson | 9:59 a.m. We need to stop thinking that every social ill can or should be solved by government. Socialism does not work. It did not work in Russia. It isn't working in China or Cuba. In places like England and Japan and Canada socialized health care has at least as many problems as does our free market system but is even slower to find solutions. It is a massive drain on their economies and freedoms.

Free will charity is one of mankind's most enobling traits. Forced redistribution of property has been and remains one of its greatest scourges, even when done for presumably good purposes.

I can't imagine on what basis Anonymous | 12:47 p.m or anyone else could think that someone "deserves" or has some claim to free health care.

To what else do people have some claim to force their fellows to provide to them for free? Food? Housing? Clothing? ALL of these are far more urgent, universal, and immediate needs than is health care.

Those who favor socialism should vote with their feet and move to Canada, Japan, England, or even Cuba while leaving the rest of us free to enjoy what little free market remains in this nation.