Posted on 10/06/2005 5:41:09 AM PDT by Crackingham
Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) will unveil a proposal Thursday to subsidize health insurance for 253,000 uninsured children in Illinois, a move that specialists describe as more far-reaching than any other program in the country. Seventy-percent of the state's uninsured children belong to families that earn $40,000 to $80,000 a year -- too much to qualify for government programs but often too little to afford private insurance.
Under Blagojevich's All Kids proposal, endorsed by the leaders of both houses of the state legislature, a family of four earning $40,000 to $59,000 would pay $40 per month per child and $10 per doctor visit.
If the measure becomes law, the Blagojevich administration hopes to enroll 50,000 children the first year at a cost of $45 million.
"Who is falling through the cracks?" asked Barry Maram, director of the Department of Healthcare and Family Services. "The people at poverty levels are often covered, and the people who are making a relatively substantial income are covered through their employer or health insurance they've obtained."
Diane Rowland, who studies the uninsured for the Kaiser Family Foundation, credited Blagojevich with making health coverage a "huge priority."
Other states have talked of extending health care to all children but would not provide as much coverage, according to Blagojevich's office.
The numbers of uninsured remains high in Illinois, despite the fact that 370,000 more people have health insurance now than when Blagojevich took office in 2003. One in eight children in Cook County, home to Chicago, has no health coverage. The proportion in far southern Illinois is higher.
"Our plan is based on a very simple principle: Everyone needs health care, and every child should have a way to get the care they need," said Blagojevich, who is expected to run for a second term next year.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Apparently Gov. Blago-whatever is beginning to fear his GOP challenger?
What else could explain such an irresponsible move?
Wonder what those grandiose ideas will cost Illinois taxpayers. I am assuming it will be picked up by Illinois taxpayers only?
I wonder how much the state will pay the Jesse Jackson clan to "enroll the chilren?" Didn't Jesse Jackson pocket millions and millions of bucks the last time some goevrnor had this brilliant idea?
(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)
And the range of incomes subsidized: 40k to 80k per annum -- is there no group liberals won't define as 'disadvantaged'?
If you can't feed 'em, DON'T BREED 'EM!
Bovine Excrement!
Those in these income brackets are simply GREEDY and SELFISH. They want their expensive car payments, the house they cant afford,..all before their children's insurance.
If you do not want to afford children..I say don't have children. Why should this become a Socialists country just because a man and a woman have a few minutes pleasure that results in spawn they expect someone else to pay for ?
illinois dems must be on drugs....they want to expand health coverage and yet, they have run out of funds to pay hospital for medicaid coverage the past 2 years....they have to wait till the new fiscal year to finish up paying for the prior year. these numbers weren't included in their budget deficit.....so where the hell will the money come from...
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