Press Releases
New Report Finds That Three in Ten California Households Cannot Afford Basic Needs
United Way Study reveals extent to which poverty is grossly undercounted in California, where 2.9 million households are living below the Self-Sufficiency Standard
Sacramento, CA
Three in ten California households lack enough income to cover "bare bones" living expenses, according to a report released today by United Ways of California. The report uses a Self-Sufficiency Standard which measures the actual cost of living in California, specific to each county, for housing, food and shelter, as well as the work-related costs of transportation, child care and taxes.>
The complete report,"Overlooked and Undercounted 2009," commissioned by United Way of the Bay Area and conducted by the Center for Women's Welfare at the University of Washington.
Governor Signs Vital Legislation to Help Fund Health Coverage for Children in California
Los Angeles, CA
October 12, 2009
Governor Schwarzenegger signed AB 1383, important legislation that will help strengthen California’s health care system during the economic downturn and provide needed health coverage to California children. AB 1383 uses funds generated by a hospital fee to draw down additional federal dollars to shore up California’s hospital system and will provide $80 million per quarter for children's health coverage.
UWCA Applauds Signing of AB1422 Which Prevents 1 Million Kids from Losing Access to Health Coverage
Los Los Angeles, CA
Peter Manzo, President & CEO of United Ways of California today issued the following statement in response to Governor Schwarzenegger’s signing of AB 1422, a bipartisan bill passed through the Legislature on September 3, 2009, aimed at restoring nearly $100 million previously cut from the Healthy Families Program, California’s low- and no-cost health insurance program for children:
“With the Governor’s signature of AB 1422 today, nearly 1 million California children will now maintain access to their health coverage. The move couldn’t come at a more critical time, as 70,000 children had been denied access to Healthy Families and health coverage since July and hundreds of thousands more had been expected to lose access to coverage this year.
Healthy Families Enrollment Freeze Lifted
More than 88,000 children on waitlist to be enrolled, beginning tomorrow
Sacramento, CA
Today, the Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board (MRMIB), which administers the Healthy Families Program, voted to rescind the Program waitlist which has been in place since July 17 of this year. Additionally, MRMIB will no longer need to disenroll children in the Program as previously planned. The ability to discontinue the waitlist and keep enrolled children in the Program is a result of First 5 California’s contribution and the Legislature’s passage of AB 1422, which the Governor is scheduled to sign soon.
The Clock is Ticking: 63,000 Children Lose Access to Health Coverage in One Month
A Total of 1 Million Will Lose Coverage This Year if Budget Cuts to Healthy Families Are Not Restored
August 21, 2009 Los Angeles, CA
A recent meeting of the Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board (MRMIB), the agency that oversees the Healthy Families Program, brought little good news for children who depend on the program. Irresponsible budget cuts by the Legislature and Governor left Healthy Families with a $194 million shortfall. While First 5 California stepped up and committed $81.4 million to help address the funding shortfall, it was not enough for MRMIB to stop denying access to new enrollments or to forgo plans to begin disenrolling children from Healthy Families on October 1. It is estimated that 1 million children could be denied access to coverage this year unless sufficient funding is found to avoid waitlists and disenrollments.
Big Five Proposed Budget is the Single Biggest Cut to Children's Health in History
Healthy Families Cuts Will Cause 785,000 Children to be Denied Access to Health Coverage
Sacramento, CA
A statement from Peter Manzo, President and CEO of United Ways of California:
"The proposed budget deal crafted by the Governor and the heads of the Assembly and Senate shows a colossal failure of leadership that constitutes an irresponsible and cruel blow to California's children's health. With budget cuts to the Healthy Families program expanding to $144 million, a total of 785,000 children are expected to be denied health coverage, resulting in the single largest health coverage cut to children in our nation's history.Children At Risk Of Losing Health Coverage Under Governor’s Budget Proposal
Los Angeles, CA May 20, 2009
Peter Manzo, President & CEO of United Ways of California, issued the following statement in response to the failure of the six Special Election ballot measures and the current May Revise budget proposal on the table:
“With the failure of the May 19 Special Election ballot measures, the Governor’s May Revise proposals that would eliminate healthcare coverage for more than 225,000 children are now officially on the table. This proposal would do permanent harm to the health of hundreds of thousands of children and is simply unacceptable.
Failure of Ballot Measures Puts Children's Health At Risk
Sacramento, CA
Peter Manzo, President & CEO of United Ways of California, issued the following is a statement regarding today’s release of Governor Schwarzenegger’s two May Revisions of the 2009-10 state budget:
“Today’s actions by the Governor clearly demonstrate his continued lack of commitment toward our most needy children. The proposed cuts to children’s health coverage in the two versions of the May Revise are unacceptable, and are out of touch with everyday Californians, who are struggling everyday to make ends meet due to our failing economy.President Obama Signs Critical Health Coverage Bill for California Children
Los Angeles, CA
February 4, 2009
United Ways of California today lauded President Obama’s signing of a bill reauthorizing the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, or SCHIP. The bill, which was reauthorized for four and a half years, provides critical healthcare for 11 million children nationwide, including nearly one million children in California. United Ways of California has been advocating for SCHIP reauthorization since 2007.
United Ways of California Praises U.S. Senate
Los Angeles, CA
January 30, 2009
United Ways of California today applauded the U.S. Senate’s passage of a bill reauthorizing the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, or SCHIP. The bill, which is expected to be signed by President Obama, provides healthcare for 11 million children nationwide, including nearly a million in California.
House of Representatives Passes Strong Children
Senate Needs to Do the Same to Protect the Health of 1 Million California Children
January 14, 2009 Los Angeles, CA
Peter Manzo, president & CEO of United Ways of California issued the following statement in response to the United States House of Representatives passage of a bill reauthorizing the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, or SCHIP:
State Able to Postpone Capping of HF Enrollment After Receiving Short Term Relief from First 5
First 5 funds act as short-term lifeline for state’s Healthy Families program, temporarily postponing need to deny tens of thousands of children healthcare
Los Angeles, CA
December 17, 2008
After being poised to close the state’s Healthy Families program to new enrollments, today the Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board (MRMIB) temporarily delayed enactment of a waitlist for kids who would otherwise be eligible for the program. The move comes after First 5 California provided $16.8 million in order to ensure that Healthy Families could continue to provide health and preventive care to California’s children at least through June 2009.
United Ways of CA Joins Gov. Schwarzenegger in Urging Congress to Increase Federal Share of Medi-Cal
Say funds are needed to help maintain essential healthcare for the 3 million children covered by Medi-Cal and to avoid further painful cuts to kids’ healthcare.
Los Angeles, CA
December 2, 2008
Today, United Ways of California joined Governor Schwarzenegger in calling on Congress to increase California’s federal share of Medi-Cal dollars to help keep the program afloat and keep children insured.
United Ways of California Says State Budget Deal Will Cause 250,000 Children to Lose Health Coverage
Urges State to Develop Solution and Funding to Cover All California Children
Santa Cruz, CA
September 16, 2008
The budget passed early this morning in the Senate and Assembly is an unfortunate step backwards on children's health in California. New Semi-Annual reporting requirements for Medi-Cal are expected to result in 250,000 children losing their health coverage, causing them to join the ranks of the uninsured.
United Ways of California Reacts to Closure of Vital Alameda Healthy Kids Program
Failure of State to Develop Solution and Funding for Uninsured Children Has Put Health of Hundreds of Alameda Kids at Risk
Los Angeles, CAJuly 8, 2008
Elise Buik, President of United Ways of California, issued the following statement in response to today's Alameda Alliance for Health announcement that it will close its Healthy Kids program as of September 30, 2008:
