Better Federal Healthcare for the Children of the Working Poor Could Be on Its Way
Posted by Sarah Caron on Fit Fare.
The U.S. House of Representatives approved a new children’s health bill yesterday that will greatly expand the federal health benefits for children of the working poor, the Washington Post reports. The bill would allow for 5 million more children to be insured, who otherwise would go without health care. It would also allow states to cover kids up to age 20 with medical and dental, as well as some legal immigrants and pregnant women.
Although the bill is meeting is strong opposition from President George W. Bush and some members of the Republican party, it is expected to pass the Senate. It still would need either Bush’s approval or a veto override by Congress to go into effect.
The new funding would come from a raise in the tobacco tax and some cuts to Medicare payments to private insurers.
