Children First: The Need to Reform Financing of Health Care Services for Children

Abstract

Many children in the United States live in poverty, lack health insurance, and receive inadequate health care. Current methods of financing health care fail to adequately provide for the needs of children. On the basis of the moral principles of beneficence and justice, adult members of society have a duty to assure that all children receive at least a basic level of health care. Any reorganized health care system should assure health care coverage for all children, health insurance plans must guarantee access and adequate coverage for important medical needs of children, and out-of-pocket expenditures must not discourage the use of effective health care for children.