News Release

HHS Approves California Plan to Expand Coverage to Unborn Children

HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt today approved a proposal by California to extend health care coverage to pregnant women and their unborn children with family incomes of up to 300 percent of the federal poverty level. The state currently covers children ages 0-19 with family incomes of up to 250 percent of poverty.

The state estimates that 123,052 pregnant women and their unborn children will be eligible for coverage under this expansion of its State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).

“This new coverage will give California children a healthy start by providing access to prenatal care,” Secretary Leavitt said. “Prenatal care can be a life-long determinant of health and we should do everything possible to make this care available to everyone.”

Coverage of this type was authorized by a 2003 HHS regulation that defines a child as an individual under the age of 19 including the period from conception to birth.

“Prenatal care is one of the most effective ways to prevent low birth weight, premature delivery and other health problems that can be permanently disabling,” said Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Mark B. McClellan, M.D., Ph.D. “Eight states have now expanded prenatal care services to more women, and we are ready to work with other states on similar programs to improve maternal and child health.”

The federal poverty level for an individual for 2006 is $9,800 and $20,000 for a family of four.

California is the eighth state to adopt this policy. Other states include: Arkansas, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Rhode Island and Washington.

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Note: All HHS press releases, fact sheets and other press materials are available at http://www.hhs.gov/news.

Last revised: January 12, 2009