It is an epidemic that so many people in this country are without health insurance and it is shameful that hospitals must charge as much as they do. The fact that he'll have to pay this bill on a monthly basis, with interest, for at least the next 15 years of his life is by anyone's standards, outrageous. E qually horrifying is the fact that for many pregnant women in America, as Mrs. Clinton sights, prenatal care is not accessible or affordable. Many employers do not or cannot offer insurance and many families do not make enough money to buy it on their own. Worse, many pregnant women are not even aware that they should be seeking prenatal care.
Prenatal care is a crucial step in insuring good health in any child.
Going without it can leave babies vulnerable to great health risks that would mean higher costs in the long run for all of us. She encourages the formation of villages in every neighborhood, emphasizing that the well-being of our children is everyone's responsibility, not just that of each individual family. T he village can do much to give parents the time they need to establish their children's well-being in the first weeks and months of life. W hat astounds me is the fact that it took a democratic president in the 90's to come up with this type of legislation, albeit still lacking, that is clearly humane, just, and crucial for the well-being of families and children. S ince 23 states have already established voluntary child custody mediation programs, and 4 more require mediation through statewide programs, there are signs of hope.