A longtime friend has just been told he has a tumor, discovered during a routine doctor’s visit paid for by his health insurance. His prognosis is positive: the doctors believe they will be able to remove the tumor quickly and easily with no negative outcomes.

Hundreds of thousands of Texas children, maybe as many as one million children by Christmas, will NOT have the opportunity for their version of my friend’s important health news.

Why not?

My friend’s good outcome is due in part to his health insurance. Insurers pay for these routine visits AND encourage preventative healthcare because “well person” visits often discover health issues early enough that successful healthy outcomes are more likely, easier on the patient, and less expensive for everyone. Which is exactly what just happened in my friend’s life.

But those children? A half a million Texas children have lost insurance this year, and the number is growing. 500,000 “well child” visits aren’t happening right now. Those children aren’t getting their immunizations. Their doctors aren’t catching early signs of illness or disease because the children aren’t coming into their clinics and offices. And, nurses and doctors and clinic staff aren’t getting paid because their patients aren’t there.

This situation is preventable. Read the policy brief from Texans Care for Children – including the solutions that can help our children.