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By Lori Abbott, Public News Service-CA
March 17, 2010
LOS ANGELES - The recession has not been kind to California's children. A new report from the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research finds the economic downturn has left an additional 400,000 youngsters without health insurance – and that's in addition to the 1.1 million who were uninsured before the economy tanked.
Cliff Sarkin, senior policy associate for the Children's Defense Fund in California, says with the state's high unemployment rate, researchers expected an increase – but not a jump of almost 40 percent. Knowing that 1.5 million are now in families without health insurance coverage is alarming, he adds.
"When they get laid off they often lose, not just their health insurance but the health insurance for their children; or a lot of employers, to save money, are cutting back on the benefits. So, we did expect the number to go up, but this is pretty darn dramatic."
Sarkin says, while California leaders have largely been supportive of health care reform, there has been a need to counter what he calls 'the well-funded opposition.'
"The insurance companies, other corporate interests and other special interests are spending millions trying to scare their representatives about voting for the bill. What we need to make sure is, those that want health reform to happen are making their voices heard."
Opponents of reform are convinced it will hurt the economy and perhaps lead to fewer choices of health care plans and providers for some. The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote on the historic overhaul of the health care system by the end of the week.
Source: Public News Service-CA
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