Every 25* Minutes in CT, A Child Loses Health Care

October 11, 2006

New Haven: John DeStefano - Democratic nominee for governor - and his running mate, Mary Messina Glassman, joined children in front of the state capitol on Wednesday to protest Gov. Rell's failure to help children gain access to health care. After the news conference, the children delivered a hand written letter to Gov. Rell's office, asking her why she hasn't done more to help children without health care.

During Monday night's debate, Rell failed to recognize or offer any solutions to Connecticut's health care crisis. According to the Universal health Care Foundation and the Campaign for Children's Health Care, nearly 400,000 people, including 75,000 children, have no health care coverage.

In contrast, John DeStefano has proposed an extensive universal health care plan, designed to lower costs for families and ensure that all children have access to health care. "It is unacceptable that even one child in Connecticut doesn't have health care coverage," said DeStefano. "As governor, I will make universal health care a top priority and ensure that every child can go to a doctor when they get sick."

As part of the universal health care plan, DeStefano will dedicate the first $50 million saved from closing corporate loopholes to a Connecticut Coverage for Kids fund that will guarantee that covering every child is the top priority. It will guarantee that 100 percent of Connecticut's children have medical insurance.

"In Connecticut, a child loses their health care every 25 minutes," said DeStefano. "It's disappointing, but not surprising, that Gov. Rell ignored this issue in Monday night's debate," said DeStefano. "Sadly, Gov. Rell has consistently turned her back on the children of this state who need health care."

According to reports from Connecticut Voice for Children, Gov. Rell's Administration increased red tape and proposed increasing premiums for HUSKY - causing thousands of children to lose health care coverage.

Under Rell's watch the state cut HUSKY outreach funding by more than 75% - from approximately $4 million each year to $850,000. Last month, Gov. Rell issued a press release announcing $1 million in new outreach funding but she declined to mention that the money was being taken from funds that were already dedicated to provide health care for children.

In addition:

Rell Proposed Cutting Grant to Hospital Providing Health Care to Poor Children.In 2005, Governor Rell suggested cutting a $6.7 million grant to the Connecticut Children's Medical Center. The medical center used the grant to help pay for health care for poor children. State Senator Prague, co-chairwoman of the budget writing subcommittee that focuses on human services, expressed her intent to keep the grant. Prague said, "That hospital ... it just does God's work. They need the money. They service the sickest children. And we just have to provide them with the funds they need." [Associated Press, 3/4/2005]

Rell Opposed Expanding Medicare Waiver Program to Help Children With Disabilities and Special Needs. In 2005, Connecticut could have had 200 families qualify for the Katie Beckett waiver for Medicaid, which allows families who would otherwise not meet the requirements for Medicaid to be allowed into the program to help with the care of children with developmental disabilities and special needs. That year, due to budget constraints, Connecticut enrolled only 125 families in the waiver. Governor Rell proposed a budget that provided for slightly increased funding to cover the 125 families already included in the waiver. Rich Harris, a spokesperson for Rell said, "There are a million fabulous programs that would be great to pay for. Unfortunately we don't have the money to pay for them all." [Associated Press, 4/24/2005]

Rell Voted Against Expanding Medicaid for Children. In 1994 Rell voted against HB 5505, a bill that expanded Medicaid coverage for children. The bill increased the age of health care eligibility from six to eleven, as long as their families qualified for Medicaid under the federal assistance guidelines. Rell voted no on a bill that passed with overwhelming bipartisan support. [Connecticut State Legislature HB 5505- Rell: N 4/26/94]

Rell Voted Against Bill to Expand Health Care Coverage to Children. In 1994, Rell voted against HB 6009, a bill that expanded Medicaid coverage for children, instituted measures to ensure that children get access to their parent's health insurance, and required employers to report new hires to the Labor Department in order to identify people who were potentially delinquent in their child support payments. [5/25/94, HB 6009, 87-51, As Amended]

Text of Letter to the Governor:

Health care is important for everyone - especially for kids.

But there are too many of us who can't go to the doctor when we get sick so we can get better again.

Why is it ok for 77,000 children in Connecticut to be without health care?

Governor Rell, please make kids a priority in Connecticut again.

*According to the Rell Administration, 10,500 children have lost health insurance coverage in the past six months.
10,500/183 days (six months) = 57 per day/1,440 minutes per day = 25.