San Francisco to Outline Plan to Cover Uninsured Children
San Francisco officials today will unveil the city Public Health Department's plan to provide medical coverage to about 5,000 of the city's uninsured children, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. Under the plan, children in families with an annual income of up to three times the federal poverty level would be eligible for medical, dental and vision coverage. The plan would cost $4 per month per child. San Francisco's cost would be about $5.7 million annually, which would come from the general fund, tobacco settlement money or taxes or a combination of the three. The Chronicle reports that if the plan is implemented, it would bring the city "one step closer" to meeting a 1998 voter mandate that calls for health coverage for up to 205,000 uninsured residents. The city's proposal comes after Santa Clara County last year became the first local government nationwide to "insure its needy children" (Lelchuk, San Francisco Chronicle, 1/30).
This is part of the California Healthline Daily Edition, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.