Monday, May 15, 2006
The governor's proposed revision of the new state budget -- slated for release on 12th May -- would include $21.8 million to provide health insurance to about 24,000 especially for low-income children in the state.
The money is intended to expand insurance to the needed kids on the waiting list in 18 counties that have established Children's Health Initiatives.
The first phase of the money, or even $11 million, would go to counties that had waiting lists as of May 1, said Sabrina Lockhart from the governor's press office. The rest would go to those that could show a waiting list is coming.
The new money is intended to pick up children who actually do not qualify for government programs such as Medi-Cal and Healthy Families because their family income is too high.
The 18 Children's Health Initiatives in the state have expanded coverage to an estimated 85,000 of these children, state Health and Human Services Secretary Kimberly Belshe said in a press call announcing the new allocation. The goal is mainly to reduce the number of kids in the state without health insurance, estimated at 770,000 late last year.
The money is intended to expand insurance to the needed kids on the waiting list in 18 counties that have established Children's Health Initiatives.
The first phase of the money, or even $11 million, would go to counties that had waiting lists as of May 1, said Sabrina Lockhart from the governor's press office. The rest would go to those that could show a waiting list is coming.
The new money is intended to pick up children who actually do not qualify for government programs such as Medi-Cal and Healthy Families because their family income is too high.
The 18 Children's Health Initiatives in the state have expanded coverage to an estimated 85,000 of these children, state Health and Human Services Secretary Kimberly Belshe said in a press call announcing the new allocation. The goal is mainly to reduce the number of kids in the state without health insurance, estimated at 770,000 late last year.
Friday, May 12, 2006
BOSTON, May 11 (UPI) -- U.S. Senate debate is now focusing on a Republican plan to allegedly allow health insurers to ignore state-mandated benefits.
Democrats said the GOP bill allow insurers to ignore Massachusetts' new universal health insurance law during charging older and sicker people far higher premiums, The Boston Globe reported Thursday.
Supporters said that the plan is designed to reduce the number of uninsured residents through helping small businesses jointly purchase less expensive insurance for their employees, the Globe said.
But U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., the ranking Democrat on the Senate's health committee, said the newspaper the Republican plan would most likely force older residents and those with major health problems from the insurance market, while allowing insurance companies actually to offer sub-par coverage.
"We (in Massachusetts) have passed a good bill that will cover all the people in our state, no matter what their illness, no matter what their sickness,"Kennedy said. "This legislation on the floor of the United States Senate would effectively undermine that, and kill that legislation."
The Republican bill states it "shall supersede any and all state laws" regarding mandated health coverage, the Globe said.
Democrats said the GOP bill allow insurers to ignore Massachusetts' new universal health insurance law during charging older and sicker people far higher premiums, The Boston Globe reported Thursday.
Supporters said that the plan is designed to reduce the number of uninsured residents through helping small businesses jointly purchase less expensive insurance for their employees, the Globe said.
But U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., the ranking Democrat on the Senate's health committee, said the newspaper the Republican plan would most likely force older residents and those with major health problems from the insurance market, while allowing insurance companies actually to offer sub-par coverage.
"We (in Massachusetts) have passed a good bill that will cover all the people in our state, no matter what their illness, no matter what their sickness,"Kennedy said. "This legislation on the floor of the United States Senate would effectively undermine that, and kill that legislation."
The Republican bill states it "shall supersede any and all state laws" regarding mandated health coverage, the Globe said.
