Hawaii Pulls Plug on Universal Child Health Care

Published January 1, 2009

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 ([email protected]) writes from Texas.