The Sacramento Bee: Health coverage a priority
December 11, 2008Letter to the Editor Re "Steinberg aim: All kids insured" (California Focus, Dec. 7): Sen. Darrell Steinberg should be commended for making health coverage for all California children a priority this legislative session.
Doing so will not only improve the health of the 800,000 children in our state who are currently uninsured, but it will ultimately help the state's fiscal situation.
Providing all children access to health care saves money by preventing more serious and costly health problems that would otherwise be treated in the emergency room. In tough economic times, this type of cost-effective reform is exactly what we need.
And Steinberg's efforts couldn't come at a more critical time. Recent budget decisions have left the children's health safety net in a precarious position. By 2010, 400,000 children who currently have health insurance could lose it.
Poll after poll shows strong public support for children's health coverage. The Legislature should waste no time working with Steinberg to tackle children's health early next year.
Peter Manzo, Los Angeles,
President, United Ways of California