Most uninsured children's parents work

[deadparrot]

WASHINGTON - Most of the 9 million uninsured children in the U.S. live in homes where at least one parent works full time. In more than one-quarter of the cases, there are two working parents.

The advocacy group Families USA, which promotes universal health coverage, says that finding goes against the stereotype that many people have of the uninsured.

"I think they believe these are low-income people who don't work, who are very different from themselves," said the group's executive director, Ron Pollack. "These are people who work, who are doing the right thing."

In a report being released Thursday, the group said about two-thirds of the families would qualify for government-sponsored coverage for their children if parents would apply.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/uninsured_children

[MountainLaurel]

1. Can't say I'm surprised

When I was volunteering at a homeless shelter for families, about 75 percent of the parents were working. Those who didn't usually had some permanent disability, such as schizophrenia or a serious back injury.

[Tempest]

2. Is this the "family values" we keep hearing about from the Repugs?

Children living in poverty is up and children without health care is up under this administration.

[rodeodance]

3. still lots of myths about welfare queens and unmarried moms who do not

work.

[RamboLiberal]

4. LAT: Study: Working Parents Struggle to Insure Children

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-insure29sep29,0,456853.story?coll=la-home-headlines

A majority of the 9 million children in the United States who lack health insurance live in two-parent families in which at least one parent is working, according to a report released Thursday by a health-care advocacy group.

These children, the report by Families USA found, are much less likely to get regular medical or dental care and are five times more likely to have unmet health-care needs than insured children. The report was prepared for the Campaign for Children's Health Care, a group seeking comprehensive health insurance coverage for all children.

California has more than 1.3 million uninsured children, the report said -- more than any other state.

They include 16-year-old Michael Duckworth, of Mi-Wuk Village, who was diagnosed with grand mal seizures in January. But because his family has no health insurance, it can't afford to take him to a neurologist until late this year, when a plan at his father's new job will take effect.

"It's a very scary time right now," said his mother, Shannon Duckworth.

[rodeodance]

5. congress/WH has no time for children

[Horse with no Name]

6. I went through a period of not having insurance

It was the scariest time of my life.
I now pay $600 a month for insurance for my family.
That is two different policies. I am paranoid that one of us could lose our insurance from one employer for one reason or the other, so I keep both.
People shouldn't have to live in fear of losing their coverage or live in despair when they do. It just isn't right.

[Ms. Toad]

8. As long as both employers offer family coverage,

losing employer insurance is generally considered a triggering event that would make you eligible for coverage under your spouse's employment coverage. You should be able to drop one plan and save some $$.

(Family plans don't have to take additional family members unless there is a triggering event - birth, marriage, end of employment insurance (or COBRA eligibility), etc. - and then they generally are required to permit enrollment of additional eligible members.)

[Viva_La_Revolution]

7. if the kids are uninsured, then the parents are too

so multiply that number by at least 2. Who will support my kids if I get sick and can't get medical attention? The taxpayers, that's who.