What makes us different? Read our Declaration of Journalistic Independence Home | About Natural News | Contact Us | Write for Natural News
Search our 25,000 free articles and special reports
health care

Nine million children left uninsured by America's health care system

Friday, September 29, 2006 by: Ben Kage | Key concepts: health care, universal health care and uninsured patients

Want stories like this e-mailed to you? Click here for free email alerts

Email this article to a friend Printable Version
(NaturalNews) A report by Families USA -- prepared for the Campaign for Children's Health Care -- found that most of the United States' 9 million children without health insurance live in two-parent families with at least one working parent.

One parent or both parents either have jobs that do not offer health insurance, or they do not make enough money to afford any coverage their employer might offer, the report found.

California has the highest number of uninsured children at 1.3 million, according to the report, even though California allows families who make as much as 250 percent of the poverty level (about $41,000 a year for a family of three) to enroll in the State Children's Health Insurance Program, the federal- and state-sponsored plan to help insure people who make too much to qualify for Medicare.

According to the Families USA report, many states have frozen their SCHIP plans to save money, which means even eligible children cannot be enrolled in the program. On top of that, SCHIP faces a funding shortfall of almost $1 billion for fiscal year 2007 when it is up for reauthorization by Congress next year.

The other problem is that, while almost two-thirds of uninsured children qualify for some form of government-sponsored insurance program, many families do not know about them or are discouraged by the complex regulations that come with signing up, said Andy Schneider, a senior advisor at low-income-family advocacy group the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Another portion of uninsured children fall through the cracks because their families make too much to qualify for Medicare but still too little to afford private coverage.

The difficulty of obtaining health insurance creates a vicious circle, as high health care prices prompt families to wait until the last possible moment to seek treatment for an ailment, which, in turn, drives up the cost of health care.

A number of activists and members of Congress say that help is on the political horizon, suggesting that Democrats will push harder for universal health care coverage if they win a congressional majority in November.

"I think you're seeing some real pressure building as fewer and fewer people are getting employment-based benefits," said Rep. Pete Stark, D-Fremont, who has introduced legislation to provide health insurance to all children by 2012. "I'm sensing a strong feeling throughout the country that we need to get health care for all."

###

Related Articles

Why Michael Moore's SiCKO is a health care documentary every American must see

Where's the health in health care reform?

The health care reform legislation that Congress should pass, but won't

Nurses launch national "Scrubs for SiCKO" campaign to endorse universal health care following Michael Moore's film

Skyrocketing health care costs make U.S. employers non-competitive in the global marketplace

Additional Resources:

health care
universal health care
uninsured patients

Take Action: Support NaturalNews.com

Email this article to a friend

Share this article on: NewsVine | digg | del.icio.us

Permalink to this article: http://www.NaturalNews.com/020586.html

Reprinting this article: Non-commercial OK, cite NaturalNews.com with clickable link.

Receive our Natural Health Newsletter for FREE

Subscribe now (it's free!) to win. We randomly choose a subscriber each month to send $100 in eco-home products or a RealGoods.com gift certificate (our choice). Plus, you'll receive FREE news, articles and action alerts from NaturalNews.com editors and join over 800,000 monthly readers who report extraordinary health improvements after becoming a subscriber!
  • Receive breaking news alerts on natural health solutions, renewable energy, the environment, global warming and more.
  • Receive a free instant download of our $29 Secret Sources guide that reveals top sources for little-known health and diet solutions.
Your Email Address:
Free Subscription Code:
Enter the numbers you see:
100% free of charge. Unsubscribe anytime.
Absolutely no spam. We respect your email privacy.

Recommended Special Report:

Seven Words that can Change the World
by Joseph R. Simonetta

Read this special report now...

"Seven Words That Can Change the World reveals the astonishing, simple truths that have the power to forever transform our world for the better while freeing our minds from the enslavement of limiting beliefs. This is not a text for the simple-minded; it is a guiding philosophy for the mindful, intelligent few who are wise enough to seek out -- and recognize -- the higher simplicities of truly purposeful living." - Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, editor of NaturalNews.com

More on NaturalNews.com:

Streaming Health Ranger Videos
CounterThink Cartoons
FREE Special Reports
Podcasts

Also Posted Today

The Politics of National Health Care Reform: Why no Popular Presidential Candidate can Solve Our Health Care Crisis (transcript)

Big Pharma "Doomed" if it Doesn't Change, Says Eli Lilly Chairman

The Poisoning of America's Water Supplies

Rickets on the Rise as Vitamin D Deficiency Surges Among Expectant Mothers

The Many Benefits of Coconut Oil and Coconut Butter

Beat Disease With Juice Feasting!

NEW 6-CD audio set reveals amazing new protocol for reversing cancer, diabetes, obesity, heart disease and more. Click to learn more.

Own Health Ranger Report Podcasts on Audio CD

Own the first 8 Health Ranger Report audio programs on 6 CDs. Covers weight loss, ADHD, vaccinations, processed meats, bone health and more. Click to learn more.

Featured Videos

Short clip on Aspartame
A short clip on aspartame from the documentary All Jacked Up.
Click here to view now...

Exclusive video on Aspartame
The dangers of aspartame! Exclusive interview footage from Cori Brackett of Sweet Remedy.
Click here to view now...

Exclusive Footage from All Jacked Up!
See interview footage featuring the Health Ranger in the upcoming junk food film, All Jacked Up.
Click here to view now...

Drug Ad Parody
See the Health Ranger's satire parody of Merck's cholesterol drug ad.
Click here to view now...

Free Health Reports!

Amazon Herb Company review
The pH Nutrition Guide to Acid / Alkaline Balance
Pet Food Ingredients Revealed! (shocking)
Medicine From Fish
The Water Cure
The Healing Power of Sunlight and Vitamin D

Featured CounterThink Cartoons

Meet the Hospital Staph


Negotiating with Big Pharma


New Warfare


Health Product Companies We Recommend

Read recommendations on supplement companies, health food manufacturers and personal care product makers that you can trust. Our 100% independent review list tells you who to trust and who to avoid in the natural health industry. Click to read.
This site is part of the Natural News Network © 2008 All Rights Reserved. Privacy | Terms All content posted on this site is commentary or opinion and is protected under Free Speech. Truth Publishing International, LTD. is not responsible for content written by contributing authors. Truth Publishing sells no health or nutritional products and earns no money from health product manufacturers or promoters. The information on this site is provided for educational and entertainment purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for professional advice of any kind. Truth Publishing assumes no responsibility for the use or misuse of this material. Your use of this website indicates your agreement to these terms and those published here. All trademarks, registered trademarks and servicemarks mentioned on this site are the property of their respective owners.