“A bigger State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) would crowd out private insurance, says Paul Guppy, vice president of research at the Washington Policy Center. The Department of Health and Human Services estimates that an expanded SCHIP would cause 1.6 million people with private insurance to drop their coverage and enter the government program. After all, why buy something when Congress will let you get it from taxpayers for free? Top-down government programs undermine consumer choice and the ability to shop for affordable coverage. A public program that aggressively seizes market share risks putting private insurers out of business. Lawmakers should target assistance to those who need it, not set up tax-subsidized programs that compete for business against their fellow citizens.” (07/30/07)