NICOS Enrollment Specialist Corina Liew helped Serena Chen obtain Healthy Families coverage for her 15-year-old son. As a massage therapist, Chen earns too much to qualify for Medi-Cal, but does not receive insurance through her employer.

Jenny Li of San Francisco lost her health insurance and her job as a line supervisor at a Bay Area electronics manufacturer because the company relocated to Mexico in 2007. The loss of insurance would have had devastating effects. Jenny’s teenage son is challenged by mental-health issues that require two types of medication and regular psychiatric visits. Thankfully, a friend referred Jenny to the NICOS Chinese Health Coalition, a United Way grantee that helps community members access and enroll in California’s Healthy Families program, which helps children access no- and low-cost health insurance.

“I am so thankful for NICOS and Healthy Families,” Jenny said. “Without them, I don’t know what I would do. Until I find work again, I can’t afford to pay for my son’s medical costs on my own.”

Unfortunately, more than 874,000 children,including Jenny’s son, could lose their health coverage if Governor Schwarzenegger’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2010/11 passes. We have seen this threat before. In 2008, United Ways across California called on legislators and the governor’s office to ensure no children lost their health coverage.

United Way is gearing up to fight once again. Under the governor’s current proposal, the Healthy Families program would be eliminated  unless California is able to obtain federal funding, which is highly risky and uncertain. Even if funding is appropriated, the proposal would still eliminate coverage for at least 200,000 children with new eligibility and cost-sharing requirements, as well as significant benefit reductions.

We are on the front lines of the fight for California’s children. We know that health insurance for all children is one of the most cost-effective ways to support their long-term success. “Children who are healthy are more likely to do well in school and in life,” said Anne Wilson, CEO, United Way of the Bay Area. “We urge the governor and the legislature
to stop these short-sighted cuts, which will force children into more costly types of care.”

Take Action Today!

We need your help to save the Healthy Families program. Please urge your legislators to reject Schwarzenegger’s proposal. We’ve made it easy—visit mainsite.uwba.org/news/healthychildren. With just a few clicks you can send an email your legislators about Healthy Families. Learn more by contacting United Way’s Susan Jeong at 415.808.4359 or sjeong@uwba.org.