Common Sense

The number of children covered by the Childrens Health Insurance Program has declined in the Waco area (and statewide). This would be smashing news, except that the population is going up and the number of kids covered by private insurers isn’t. In other words, kids who need health insurance don’t have it.

But for the state that has the dubious distinction of leading the nation with the highest percentage of uninsured children, the 5.5 percent decrease in the county’s Medicaid coverage has created some concern the problem may be growing.

“For Medicaid to decline at all is somewhat alarming,” said Anne Dunkelberg, assistant director of the Austin-based progressive Center for Public Policy Priorities.

Dunkelberg said changes in the enrollment process last year confused parents and led some families to inadvertently fall off the rolls.

Goodman said those problems are being ironed out, but other issues also may have played a role. Medicaid now requires participants show proof of income level to maintain services. This allowed the agency to determine some families now make too much money to qualify, Goodman said.

It takes me back to the time when I was working two jobs during the summer and I was told I and my parents made too much money for federal assistance for college. It made no sense, and most of the people that need this program aren’t getting that help for the same reason.

Or its because lawmakers make these kinds of programs so hard to apply for and maintain that people don’t even bother. I consider that to be criminal. However it happens, kids aren’t getting health insurance. You and I (well you since my mom still pays for my health insurance) still have to pay for it through higher premiums since these kids end up going to the free clinic for health care (when they go). It would be much easier and much cheaper to spend the money through taxes and let the government bargain down the cost of healthcare.

It makes no sense to keep doing it this way. Far too many kids don’t get adequate healthcare and it costs the rest of us far too much money.