Perdue: Phase in parents' coverage

Beverly Perdue would phase in coverage of uninsured parents.

The lieutenant governor, who is running for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination, has called for insuring adults up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level. (That's currently up to $41,300 for a family of four.)

In her proposal, Perdue argues this would help insure children who already qualify for Medicaid or Health Choice insurance but are not signed up.

She proposes phasing in coverage by starting with families up to 150 percent of poverty level, or up to $30,975, with federal matching funds during her first years in office. Then, she would attempt to expand coverage up to 200 percent.

Perdue spokesman David Kochman wrote Dome that this reflects a "Families First" approach to health care. He cited a 2002 report from the national Institute of Medicine that showed having one uninsured member can hurt the health of the rest of the family.

"The research clearly indicates that the only way we will reach the now widely-shared goal of getting more poor children enrolled in public coverage is by extending coverage to their parents," he wrote.