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Contra Costa Times
October 2, 2005
By Assemblymember Wilma Chan
During the recall campaign in September 2003,
Then-candidate Arnold Schwarzenegger trumpeted his support
for the health of California's children: "We have to
make sure that every child in California is insured. That
is the most important thing."
In the coming weeks the governor will have
an historic opportunity to fulfill the promise of those words
by signing Assembly Bill 772, legislation I authored, which
takes a realistic, phased-in approach to extending health
coverage for every child in our state. Health coverage should
not be a luxury that only some can afford.
Children with health insurance grow up healthier
because they get the care they need.
As a result, they perform better in school
and later in life. AB 772 would establish the California Healthy
Kids program to provide access to health coverage for all
children.
This bill does not require a radical change
from our current health-care system. Nor does it change private
and employer-sponsored coverage as currently provided to children
in California.
Instead, the legislation builds on the strengths
of our existing system, including successful state insurance
programs, Healthy Families and Medi-Cal, extending coverage
to those children not currently eligible and charging premiums
based on families' ability to pay.
In addition, AB 772 would make it easier for
children who are already eligible to enroll and stay enrolled
in a health insurance program, by harnessing recent technological
advances and reducing bureaucratic paperwork.
The program would be funded through the California
Healthy Kids Fund, as proposed in Assembly Bill 1199 (Frommer),
which currently awaits the governor's signature.
This fund would support children's health
coverage through both public and private contributions.
AB 772 builds on the success of local children's
health initiatives currently operating or being developed
in 27 counties across the state.
These innovative programs have made great
strides in providing health care for all children in these
counties.
Unfortunately, most of these counties have
used up their available resources and will not be able to
sustain their services without the additional support that
AB 772 provides.
Children's health coverage reduces expensive
visits to the emergency room for routine or preventive care,
provides a safety net against catastrophic medical emergencies,
and protects our working families from unexpected financial
burdens related to medical costs.
What's more, healthy children spend more time
and perform better in the classroom.
The question is not whether we will pay for
these children's health care when emergencies occur. We are
already doing that.
The question is whether we choose to invest
our money wisely, to prevent the higher medical costs of emergency
rooms with preventive medical care.
From a purely fiscal perspective, by enrolling
children in health insurance programs, California gains billions
of federal dollars.
When California invests $1 in children's health
coverage, the federal government reimburses the state up to
$2.
What is most promising about this monumental
goal is that covering all children is doable, realistic and
within our reach.
Most of California's 800,000 uninsured children
already qualify for available insurance programs but just
need to be enrolled.
An estimated 80 percent of voters overwhelmingly
support health coverage for all California children.
Support is broad-based and diverse, including
businesses, teachers, religious leaders, unions, parents,
health care providers and health plans.
If the governor is truly committed to providing
health care for all children in this state, now is the time
to act. Health coverage for all of California's children is
an investment that our schools, our counties, and our children
desperately need.
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