Thinking of America's Children - After All, They Are Future Voters

In recent years, medical costs have been on the rise. At the same time, insurance rates are soaring high as well. As a result, millions of people are going without the medical care they truly need. Pregnant women are turning to alternatives such as home childbirth. Injuries are going untreated until it becomes obvious that something must be done. Patients are holding off seeing a doctor until symptoms become severe. Sometimes, they don't even have the chance to make it to the doctor at all.

It's obvious that more and more adults are going without the health care they need. What about the children? The United States has offered health care options, such as Medicaid, for children in low-income families. Unfortunately, there is still a large number of children that this doesn't cover. Programs, such as Georgia's PeachCare for Kids, were designed to help provide medical insurance for children who would otherwise go without medical coverage.

Unfortunately, the funding that made programs such as PeachCare possible has been dwindling. As a result, children are being turned away, and coverage is getting weaker. America's babies, children, and teens are going without the health care that is necessary to keep them growing strong and healthy. These children, who will one day be America's leaders, are being left high and dry.

Efforts are being made to create programs designed to help America's children receive the health care they deserve. Through the State Children's Health Insurance plan, uninsured children throughout the United States would be covered for medical costs ranging from annual well visits and immunizations to illnesses and medical emergencies. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there was an estimated nine million children who went without medical insurance at some point during 2006. The proposed health insurance plan will help a portion of these children, based on family income at a higher income requirement than was previously allowed.