Hawaii Ends Universal Health Coverage for Children

State officials in Hawaii announced today that they will eliminate funding for its universal health care program for children. The law, implemented just seven months ago, is the only state program of its kind in the country and was intended to provide care to low-income children who could not afford it but weren't eligible for Medicaid. The Hawaii Medical Service Association, the state's largest private health care provider, has promised to extend coverage to children through the end of the year. State administration officials say many families had left their private plan to enroll their children in the state program and cited a major state budget shortfall in 2011.

Seven in 10 Americans show support for more federal funding for the State Children's Health Insurance program. But overall, the American public tends to show ambivalence when it comes to the government’s involvement in regulating health care. Nearly two-thirds of the public say the federal government should guarantee health insurance for all Americans—but half say they would not be willing to pay higher premiums or higher taxes. Public attitudes about a universal health care system also vary depending on survey question wording.