In sickness and in health...

I ran into this Newsweek article (part of the Periscope section):

For the past four years, the American Lung Association has published annual report cards for each state based on its tobacco-control and -prevention efforts. None ever got straight A's—until now. In the 2005 State of Tobacco Control study, out this week, Maine gets top grades in all four areas: cigarette taxes, youth access, smoke-free air and anti-tobacco spending. The state set aside more than $15.3 million for tobacco prevention and control this past fiscal year—36 percent more than the minimum recommended by the Centers for Disease Prevention. Tobacco products can be purchased only through a clerk and with a photo ID; the state conducts regular checks. Smoking is banned in restaurants and bars and restricted in public and private workplaces. And lawmakers just doubled the tax to $2 a pack—$1.08 more than the national average. "Maine's the poster boy for the country. It's been very aggressive, and the policies are having an impact," says the ALA's CEO, John L. Kirkwood.

That led to my musing about something I heard a few years ago, when in orientation for Student Speech Advocacy and Service, a student-led group dedicated to spreading awareness of available health care resources for youth, at the Santa Clara Family Health Plan. They participate in the Medi-Cal for kids (which receives federal funding), Healthy Families (administered by the State of California), and runs its own low-cost health care program called Healthy Kids. For less than $20 a month, parents can make sure their children (up to age 19) is covered by a comprehensive plan.

Of course, all that costs lots of money. And much of the funding comes from this huge tobacco lawsuit. I really liked the idea of money from a tobacco lawsuit being used to provide health care for children.

My information may be somewhat out of date, since this was more than two years ago. But my point is still the same: if national health care is impossible, at least provide some means for families to be able to afford health care for kids.

Providing some way for children to stay healthy... that's a family value.