56,000 California Kids May Lose Health Coverage
Posted by
Brian FoleyNovember 27, 2007 8:22 AMInstead of presents, Santa Claus might deliver a note to more than 56,000 families in California that will inform them that their children will no longer have health insurance by the end of the year. This is not because these children were on Santa's naughty list. It's because of dangerous Washington politics. California risks losing federal funds to support its children health insurance programs because of a pathetic stalemate between Congress and President Bush.
Last month, Congress attempted to expand children health care to 4 million more kids who do not qualify for Medicaid. It would have covered an additional 600,000 kids in the state. As usual, Bush obstructed this effort, even though an overwhelming majority of Americans support it.
As noted in this November 25 article, California would be one of the hardest hit by a lack of federal funds, which helps cover more than 1 million in the state. A continued impasse in Washington will only exacerbate the widespread epidemic of uninsured Californians.
If action is not taken soon, an enrollment freeze for uninsured kids may have to be considered. Eventually an average of 66,000 kids will be kicked out on a monthly basis. And by next fall, 600,000 kids, or 70 percent, will lose their insurance, according to the article.
The United States is the wealthiest country in the world. The politicians in Washington cannot let this happen. Contact members of Congress by clicking here. To see how members of Congress voted on the bill last month, click here.