California Children May Lose Health Care

Posted in Health Insurance

July 2nd, 2009

Up to 942,000 California children could be left without health care coverage in the coming months. This is according to budget cuts proposed by Gov. Schwarzenegger to end the Healthy Families program, one of many that would be eliminated this summer if the budget cuts are approved.

California is making an effort to cut corners and save money where it can by devising the California Budget Project. In total, the project is likely to result in $5.5 billion in cuts in orderto counteract the state’s swelling budget deficit that was projected to reach more than $24 billion by next summer.

As a result, hundreds of thousands of children throughout California who were qualified to receive health care coverage through Medi-Calcould lose their coverage. This would mean the end of dental, vision, and health care benefits. While it seems no one is comfortable with the decision to leave these children uninsured, by ending the program, it is said that the state could save between $250 million and $300 million.

While the situation isn’t looking good, it is said that there may be some hope of salvaging some of the health care. Here are a few possibilities:

• The First 5 Commission.The commissionmight have a chance to offset all or part of the deficit because it administers tobacco tax money.
• The Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board. Another possibility is that the Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board is thinking about imposing a wait list on the program, rather than eliminating it. The problem with this option is that it would freeze enrollment.

In the end, critics say every effort needs to be made to stop this from occurring before more money is found. The result of the children having no health care could be detrimental. Without regular visits to the doctor or dentist, the possibility of serious illnesses or more expensive treatmentslater on could be greatly amplified.

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