Monday, February 09, 2009

FLORIDA NOT YET ELIGIBLE FOR FULL FEDERAL AID TO INSURE LOW-INCOME CHILDREN

The just-passed State Children's Health Insurance Program legislation (SCHIP) assists states in providing basic health insurance to low-income children, and could provide HMO benefits to 800,000 children in Florida who now lack coverage. In order to qualify for maximum funding under SCHIP, however, Florida would have to increase its current $124 million allocation by an additional $39 million. This increase would allow the state to obtain the matching $86 million in federal assistance, which will come from a 62-cents-per pack federal tax on cigarettes.

See South Florida Sun-Sentinel article at http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/custom/consumer/sfl-flrxkid0205sbfeb05,0,7513996.story

 

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