How important is health care for children? How important is life?

A study a few years ago determined that for every $1 spent on prenatal and early childhood care, $3 or more was saved on health care costs when that child reached adulthood.

We're talking generally about the poorest of the poor, so those costs relate directly to you, the California taxpayer. Health insurance is one of those items that many of us take for granted, but for the poor, monthly premium payments are far down the list of must-have, must-pay.

Usually the poor are more concerned about putting food on the table or making the monthly rent payment.

That situation is a ticking time bomb. Kids without health insurance tend to go without health care. Small medical problems can turn into big ones. A sick child often becomes a sick adult, and without the financial resources to deal with health issues, the costs usually fall to local, state or federal governments.

Officials at Doorway to Health, a local nonprofit group, and the Santa Barbara County Regional Health Authority think they have a plan to fight that problem. Thanks to a combination of state money, tobacco settlement funds and financial help from First Five, Doorway to Health is offering low-cost health insurance for children of low-income families.

Families can sign up for $4 per month per child, which entitles a youngster to full medical, dental and vision coverage. The requirements of the family are not that stringent. A family of four can earn up to $58,000 a year to qualify.

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The present level of funding will allow this program to operate for all of 2006, and officials are working on funding for a second and third year, and perhaps beyond. This first phase will accommodate 500 children under the age of 19.

And therein lies the problem. So far, fewer than 100 children have been enrolled in the program. County officials estimate more than 4,000 children are eligible for the health coverage, so it seems that getting the word out about the program is a significant hurdle.

You can find out more by calling Doorway to Health at 685-9525, Ext. 325, or by going online at: www.doorwaytohealth.org.

January 2, 2006