Healthcare providers are applauding California lawmakers for striking a deal that saves the Healthy Families program. The arrangement means nearly 700,000 children who would have lost their health insurance will hold onto it.
Healthy Families provides low-cost medical, dental, and vision coverage to children of the working poor. The program suffered major cuts in the latest state budget.
The new deal restores nearly $200 million of funding. It does so in part by imposing a tax on health insurers.
Some families will face higher premiums. But Gary Rotto, with the San Diego Council of Community Clinics, said that beats the alternative.
"Increased premiums will be difficult for many families to work into their budget, but it is far better than to be without insurance," Rotto said.
Nearly 79,000 children in San Diego County are enrolled in Healthy Families.
