NEWSBRIEF

Newsbrief: Health Insurance for California Children

Katherine Chun, Wilma Chan and Betty Hong

April 11, 2005

ACMHS endorses Assembly Bill 772, California Health Kids Program, sponsored by Assemblywoman Wilma Chan.

Support The 100% Campaign – a broad Statewide coalition including Children Now, the Children’s Defense Fund, and the Children’s Partnership – to secure health insurance for every Californian child.

Why is providing health insurance for all children essential?

• Health insurance is a matter of life and death. Twenty-five years of health care research shows that having insurance reduces the incidence of death by 10 to 15%. (1)
• Health insurance is a critical investment in children’s health.
• Children with health insurance are more likely to get the care they need, including essential preventative care, and perform better in school.
• Children’s health insurance also protects parents against catastrophic health care costs when their children have accidents or serious health conditions.

More information on Assemblywoman Wilma Chan and AB 772. Click on Priority Projects.

More information on The 100% Campaign.

1. Dubay L, Kenney GM. “Health Care Access and Use Among Low-Income Children:  Who Fares Best?” Health Affairs, 2001 Volume 20, Issue 1, pp. 112-121.