Family Making $56,000 Struggles With `Out of Sight' Health Cost

[PA Democrat]

Sept. 25 (Bloomberg) -- Lori and Steven Siravo earn $56,000 a year and say they can't afford health insurance.

They consider themselves lucky to live in New Jersey, where the family's income isn't too high to qualify their 16-year-old daughter, Carlie, for U.S. government-subsidized coverage under the State Children's Health Insurance Program.

``It's one of the greatest things,'' said Lori, 48, a hairdresser who pays $74.50 a month for her daughter's benefits, less than a third of what she'd have to spend for private insurance. She and her husband, who works for a small construction company, don't have insurance. ``At least I can sleep a little better at night knowing Carlie has it.''

President George W. Bush says families making that much can afford private coverage and that the 10-year-old program should return to its purpose of ``helping poor children.'' His effort to stop middle-class families from obtaining benefits in states such as New Jersey is at the heart of a conflict with Congress over renewal of the health plan set to expire Sept. 30.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=washingtonstory&sid=aFNvVAEKzuck