Hawaii Pulls Plug on Universal Child Health Care

In an email to state health officials, Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle (R) announced her decision to stop funding Keiki Care, a taxpayer-funded program intended to provide insurance to all of the state’s children, just seven months after the program’s April 2008 launch.

State-provided services for the 2,000 children enrolled in the program, which was costing Hawaii taxpayers $25.50 per child per month, were discontinued in November. The Hawaii Medical Service Association, a private health insurance provider, agreed to provide coverage to former recipients of Keiki Care until the end of 2008, without government support.

Krystle Russin (krystle@purepolitics.com) writes from Texas.