Stanislaus County Draws Attention to Health Care Option for Young Kids
Stanislaus County officials are highlighting the county's Healthy Cubs program, which covers primary care for pregnant women and children ages five and younger while their applications for other health coverage are pending, the Modesto Bee reports.Â
The program is open to children from households with annual incomes that do not exceed 300% of the federal poverty level.
Healthy Cubs receives funding from the county's First 5 Commission, which uses proceeds of a state tobacco tax increase to fund early childhood health care and education services. The commission has allocated $850,000 for Healthy Cubs this year.
New Challenges
Children generally receive services through the program for about 90 days before they are enrolled in other programs, but Maria Blanco, administrator of the county's indigent health care program, said she expects children to remain in the program longer because of more limited options for health care coverage.
In particular, state funding cuts to Healthy Families, California's Children's Health Insurance Program, could result in more children seeking coverage through Healthy Cubs (Carlson, Modesto Bee, 8/26). 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.