Study: 1 In 4 Kids Go Without Health Care

(CBS)  Some uninsured children of the working poor don't go to the doctor's office; it comes to them.

They make too much for Medicaid but not enough to have their own insurance.

And 150,000 patients per year, nationwide, get free care from 21 mobile units provided by the Children's Health Fund. But a new report out Thursday from this non-profit group says far too many kids are falling into a huge health care crevice, CBS News has learned exclusively.

The group's report finds despite billions of dollars in government spending, more than one in four children still don't have full-time health care — a gap twice as big as anyone thought, CBS News correspondent Sharyl Attkisson reports.

"It's more than just insurance and lack of insurance, that are keeping children from getting medical care," says Dr. Irwin Redlener, president of the Children's Health Fund of Columbia University.

It's estimated that 9 million children are completely uninsured. But the new study says 11.5 million more kids end up without medical care for part of the year. And another 3 million can't get a ride to the doctor. That's more than 23 million children.

To close the gap, Redlener is on Capitol Hill lobbying for a dramatic expansion of the $5 billion federal Children's Health Insurance Program, or CHIP. Redlener wants to add 9 million people to CHIP, plus dental and mental health benefits and transportation.

The price tag for all that? "Really what we need is $60 billion. Between $50 and $60 billion," he says.

Getting that type of government assistance may be a long shot, but Redlener says it's cheaper than the cost of neglecting the medical needs of a generation of children.

[mikealford3]

I don't disagree that some of the things NASA does are very beneficial for mankind. I just would like to see a little better judgement on some of the projects. IMO, America is better off spending 7 billion dollars on health care for children rather than "ATTEMPTING" again "ATTEMPTING" to put a probe on PLUTO.

[itwasntme000]

Bring up whatever point you want but the money and effort we put into nasa is the most well spent money in human history. Just because it is trying to prove your religion wrong(which it is wrong) does mean the benefits of it are any less.

And what is the age range to be considered a kid?? 0-19 ? 0-10 5-10 ???

Alot over 18 that are off on their own choose not to get insurance because they dont think anything will happen to them.
The biggest waste of money we have in america is the war on drugs tho. They are spending an ungodly amount of money on law enforcment, prison gaurds, prisons, and who knows what technology / survelence wire taps. When the gov could be making money off of selling many of these drugs. Education is always the best way curb harmfull behavior, period. Even today people are going to do whatever drug they really wanna use. Then they talk about how it would be easier for minors to get these drugs when it already is simple. I mean before i was even 18 me and friends would try to find someone who would buy some alachol for us and seriously it was easier to get some ganja or coke then to find a buyer.

[mikealford3]

Amazing, 1 in 4, 25% of kids go without health care! That is shameful. Trillions spent in Iraq everyday and kids here at home go without. NASA is spending 7 billion to attempt to put a robot on Pluto, and 25% of the kids in America don't have health care. Exxon's former CEO recieved a 25 million dollar "bonus" last year and 25% of the kids in America don't have health care.

MAN DOES THIS COUNTRY HAVE IT'S PRIORITIES WAY MESSED UP.

[bill1fj]

It seems strange to me that millions of legal citizens go without adequate health care but billions of dollars are spent on illegal aliens health care by the federal and some state governments.
Just doesn't seem right to me.
I think we need a real change in the politicians that supposedly serve us.
This goes for both major parties.

[condumism]

Posted by perception5
Democrat party started the KKK and the most senior current Democrat Robert Byrd headed up the KKK in his district.

As a paid GOP poster, you sure do get these stories to fit your twisted post Ronald Reagan uneducated mind. Southern Democrats were only Democrat in name. George Wallace for example, was not a Democrat in anybodys mind except his own. This goon represented the hate that did and still does permeate the Southern States. Since you are a pro at twisting the subject here, tell us why again the USA is in such dire straights regarding its health care sustem? Something about illegal immigrants are the couse, which is stratight from the mouth of the Fascist FOX Fake News. Illegals, which are here because of the failed policies of American hating Southern Rethuglcions are one of many scapegoats you fascist dogs use to deflect your ignorance and hypocrisy. Only a fascist dog could come up with the illogical conclusions you inbred Southerners come up with.

[condumism]

Europe and Canada have universal helath care, and the cost as a proportion to GNP is 8%. The USA's private coverage is now 16% of GNP, expected to rise to 20% by 2010. This disaster has all been caused by the Republicon Copngress of the past 12 years, allowing pharmacueticals and insureres to wrtie all legislation to get US to this point. The dumbing down of America started by Ronald Reagan is now having huge payoffs to the GOPigs special interests group, ie: Corporate Fascist America.

[perception5]

No lower life form in the USA than a Southern Hypocrit, aka: Republicon!
Posted by condumism at 02:18 PM : May 03, 2007

......some more history for you condumism, your party started the KKK and the most senior current Democrat Robert Byrd headed up the KKK in his district.

Your liberal propaganda goes against HISTORY..... and I'm not going to allow you to "revise history"

Have a nice day

[condumism]

Posted by perception5

Why the way there are STILL lots of Dems in the South their just the minority now.....thank God.

And thank the Gods that the Republicon Party is now a regional party of the original confederate fascist states. These "america hater's and nazi lover's" will never have a majority in the US Congress again for the remainder of all of our lifetimes. No lower life form in the USA than a Southern Hypocrit, aka: Republicon!

[itwasntme000]

One thing that cracks me up tho is people who complain insurance is to high to be able to afford it, yet they smoke a pack of cigarettes a day and blow money in casinos and bars. ??? i mean *** ???
good thing these people have kids to!!!!

[itwasntme000]

The money we spend on our failing war on drugs could have insured every kid many times over. Our priorities are hosed.
Where are the valid studies on cost/benefit analysis for our government expenditures?
Posted by bookwerm314 at 01:14 PM : May 03, 2007

EXACTLY. AND I THOUGHT THIS WAS A FREE COUNTRY.... YET WE ARE TOLD WHAT WE CAN AND CANNOT TO OUR OWN BODIES. BUT A DOCTOR CAN GIVE US UNPROVEN CHEMICALS TO TRY TO FIX PROBLEMS.(DRUGS THAT ARE MUCH WORSE THEN MOST OF THE ILLIGAL ONES NOW)