KidCare Reform Must Be Addressed in the Special Session
Aug 29, 2007
Current estimates are that more than a half million Florida children are without health insurance of any kind. (Agency for Health Care Administration, Florida Health Insurance Study at 3) The KidCare program is designed to provide coverage to children whose parents make too much to qualify for Medicaid but not enough to afford private health insurance.
KidCare receives significant federal funding from the State Children's Health Insurance Program, known as S-CHIP. However, because Florida has failed to maximize enrollment in the program, we have lost more than $130 million dollars in available federal funding to other states.
In 2004, the legislature made this problem worse by enacting changes to KidCare that actually made it more difficult for parents to enroll their children and keep them enrolled. Because of these changes, the number of children participating in KidCare actually declined by more than 100,000 between 2004 and 2005, nearly 40% fewer children in just one year.
A package of reforms was proposed in this year's legislative session with wide, bi-partisan support. The legislation had the backing of Governor Charlie Crist, CFO Alex Sink, and most legislative leaders. But the legislature ended it's session without passing the reform bill.
On May 18, a broad coalition of 24 respected advocacy groups delivered a letter to Governor Charlie Crist urging him to bring consensus reform legislation before the legislature during the special session on property tax reform scheduled to begin on June 12. To read their letter,click here. The Legislature refused to expand the scope of the June special session in order to pass the consensus bill.
Now that another special session is scheduled for September, the Legislature has the chance to finally do the right thing. The health and future of hundreds of thousands of Florida children are at risk. Florida's children deserve better and they can't wait until next year.
Join us in calling on Governor Charlie Crist, Senate President Ken Pruitt, and House Speaker Marco Rubio to expand the scope of the September special session to include passing the KidCare reform legislation.
Take Action
Tell the Legislature to Get the Job Done Right
Sign our petition and join thousands of Floridians in asking Governor Crist and legislative leaders to address PIP before it sunsets on Oct. 1 or during the October special session. Click here to sign the petition.
Write your legislators
Send a message to your legislators and ask them to call for an opportunity to address KidCare while they're in special session. Click here to email your legislators.
Write a Letter to Your Newspaper
Send a letter to the editor encouraging other voters to join us in urging officials to fix KidCare now. Click here to write your newspaper.