Action Alert: SB 282 and HB 7 Need Your Voice Now More Than Ever Before!

ACTION ALERT: Join KidsWell Florida in the Fight to Ensure Access to Health Care For All of Our Kids!

Thanks to the relentless commitment of advocates and concerned Floridians like you, last week, SB 282 passed through the Senate Health Policy Committee. Despite this major victory, there is still work to be done to reach our goal of insuring more of Florida’s children. If the bill’s progress is stopped now, approximately 25,000 legally residing children willstill be forced to endure a five year wait before they are eligible to enroll in Florida KidCare.

Making sure SB 282 and HB 7 are heard by the Senate and House Appropriations subcommittees, respectively, is the next and very crucial step to expanding access for these kids. During the five years legally residing children are forced to wait, they are less likely to see a doctor, far more likely to have unmet medical needs, and significantly more likely to miss several days of school.

Join KidsWell Florida in the fight to eliminate the 5 year waiting period for legally residing immigrant children and contact your legislators today!

The official estimate of the cost of extending coverage to these children is about $19 million in state funds, less than ¼ of 1 percent of the state’s share of the health care budget. However, children’s health experts believe that even the $19 million figure is too high, with the true price tag easily coming in at less than half that amount. The official state estimates assumes that every newly eligible child will immediately enroll in coverage, but Florida’s past experience with expansions of coverage shows that this is a highly unrealistic expectation.

Help us get these bills heard and passed through the next committee. Please call or e-mail members of the Florida House Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee and the Florida Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services and ask them to do the right thing for so many of Florida’s children.

House Speaker Weatherford and Senate President Gaetz also play a pivotal role in the success of these bills. Click here to send a quick email letting them know how important this issue is to you and to Florida.

YOU CAN ALSO…

• Click here to watch a YouTube video and learn more about SB 282 and HB 7
• Visit our website and join KidsWell Florida’s subscription list!
• Spread the word on this issue and legislation with your networks. KidsWell Florida is on Facebook and Twitter. Follow us / “Like” us and help us spread information, receive notice about calls to action and other important updates on this issue.
• Download these talking points (English and Spanish) to share or use when you contact or speak with your legislative contacts and community leaders. 

Together, we can make this happen!

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