Largest Local Funder of Children's Insurance in LA County Urges Permanent, State-Wide Health Care Solutions

(Los Angeles, CA)—First 5 LA, the largest local funder of children's health insurance in Los Angeles County, today joined a coalition of health care funders and advocates in calling for state and local leaders to create permanent, long-term policy solutions to provide health coverage for the more than 800,000 uninsured children in California.

At a 2 p.m. news conference at the Arroyo Vista Family Health Center (2411 N. Broadway, LA 90031), LA County Supervisor Gloria Molina, who is also 2005 chair of First 5 LA, urged state policy makers to provide health insurance coverage to every child in California.

"Our leaders in Sacramento would do well to put aside partisan differences and work together to ensure that all California's children have quality health care," Molina said. "It's what our children deserve, and it's what we should provide for them."

In 2003, First 5 LA committed $100 million over five years to providing free and low-cost health insurance to all LA County children ages 5 and under whose families fall below 300 percent of the federal poverty level.

To date, more than 8,000 youngsters in that age group have been enrolled in Healthy Kids, the First 5 LA-spearheaded insurance that covers children who are not otherwise eligible for state-sponsored insurance, such as Healthy Families and Medi-Cal. Outreach efforts are now focusing on the estimated 6,000 more children ages 5 and under who qualify for Healthy Kids but remain uninsured. By law, First 5 LA funds may only be used for children 5 years and under.

Although funders, under the umbrella of The Children's Health Initiative of Greater Los Angeles, have managed to cover, through private donations, an additional 36,000 children ages 6-18, enrollment for this older age group is currently capped, due to lack of funding.

"We are working with our community partners, including The California Endowment, the LA County Department of Health Services, and LA Care, to find new ways to meet the growing need of children of all ages," said Evelyn V. Martinez, First 5 LA executive director.

"First 5 LA cannot do it alone. We need state and local policy makers to step up to the plate to do their part—we've made a good start to insure young children's health in LA County—now we need them to make the same investment to cover all of California's children," she added.

First 5 LA is a unique child advocacy organization created by California voters that invests tobacco tax revenues for programs to improve the lives of children prenatal through 5 in Los Angeles County. First 5 LA champions health, education and safety issues benefiting young children and families.