Health care for children

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At this time of the year, the health and well-being of American children are at the forefront of the public conscience. Recent reports suggest that state children's health insurance programs remain strong, even though many states are cutting back.

One study reported that 500,000 children from low-income families lost health insurance over the past two years. Those cutbacks are directly attributable to a sluggish economy that has reduced state tax revenues. Private-sector companies, facing their own substantial difficulties, have been unable to fill the gap.

But several states have been expanding children's benefits. In addition, the long-term trend suggests current problems may be only a temporary setback — one that may soon be corrected by a reviving economy. Since 1999, the number of children covered by health insurance — either through the parents' employer or through state programs — actually has increased. The number of uninsured children dropped from 12.6 percent to 10.1 percent.

In at least two states where programs have been cut, reductions have been dramatic. Texas adopted restrictions that reduced enrollment by 170,000, while Florida cut eligibility for at least 24,000 children.

Many poor children in those states have been crowded out of programs by the children of poor Hispanic immigrants. The federal government, by failing to articulate and enforce a clear immigration policy, has placed a huge health care burden on the states. The result, as seen in Texas and Florida, has been a substantial reduction in children's benefits.

Other states no doubt are burdened also with an influx of Hispanic immigrants who put stress not only on health care but also the educational system. South Carolina officials, however, were unable to say whether immigrants have placed a substantial burden on health-care programs. The state's Health and Human Services Department has not substantially cut its modest children's health benefits, although an ongoing state budget crisis could force reductions next year.

A reviving economy should enhance the ability of states and private companies to provide more health insurance coverage for children. Businesses especially should find it in their best interest to offer or expand health-care coverage for employees and their children. If companies don't take responsibility for providing health-care benefits, they're likely to pay higher taxes in the future as public pressure builds for government-funded universal health care.