California Officials Mull Options for Kids’ Health Insurance Plan
Beginning next month, California might have to cut 66,000 children per month from the state's Healthy Families health insurance program if Congress and President Bush do not reach an agreement on federal funding, Lesley Cummings, Healthy Families director, said, KQED's "The California Report" reports. Healthy Families is California's version of the State Children's Health Insurance Program.
Cummings said an alternative to dropping coverage would be to maintain current enrollment levels with the expectation that funding eventually will be approved. However, that option could mean the state would have to completely end the program next spring if additional federal funding does not come through.
Officials will meet next week to make a decision (Goldberg, "The California Report," KQED, 11/27).
Audio of the segment is available online.