A Flash player error has occured, please make sure you have the latest Adobe Flash Player. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.

Tools

'Rite Care' Program on the Chopping Block; Struggling Families Fight to Keep It

John Eagan

Story Created: Jun 4, 2008 at 6:26 PM EST

Story Updated: Jun 4, 2008 at 6:26 PM EST

     The group is small but their message echoes across the state...'Keep Rite Care', a program which provides health care to low income families.
     Rhode Island's budget crisis has recently put Rite Care on the chopping block.
     This means legislators may lower income benchmarks, cutting some 7,000 adults from the program, adults like Anne LaBossiere of North Kingstown.
     The young mom and small business owner worries about her family, and about her continuing treatment for post-pardem depression, something she has suffered from since the birth of her daughter.
     Governor Carcieri proposed the cuts back in January, but they linger as the general assembly tries to finalize the state budget.
     And the clock is ticking.
     LaBossiere just wants lawmakers to know she's more than a bottom line.
     ABC 6 reporter Parker Gavigan has the details...

Tuesday, Jun 10 at 10:20 PM Lou-Anna D. W.G. wrote ...

My husband works for a corporate company and the hourly wage he gets is not going to help pay for medical, if they cut rite care my three children will be without medical. We can't afford the price of gas to get to work never mind trying to pay for medical. I have been trying to get a job but the economy is just terrible. I don't know what people are so supposed to do! I guess we'll have to choose between eating or paying for medical. I bet Carcieri has health benefits!!!

Thursday, Jun 5 at 12:45 PM Anonymous wrote ...

I am an unmarried mother living with the father of my son. Neither one of us work at a place that even offers health insurance. I love how we live in a world where the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. How can people live with themselves knowing that they are taking away health insurance for lower income families. I'm sure the "legislators" and upper class families in Rhode Island have health insurance.

Wednesday, Jun 4 at 6:49 PM Donna F, Cranston wrote ...

I am married with 2 children, if they rid of the Rite care I am left with nothing, my husband is disabled and gets his medical through through medicare, but where does that then leave my children and I. We cannot afford to go out and pay for the outragous costs of medical. Paying for the Ritecare monthly is fine what they charge is not a big amount. To get rid of it will leave to many adults and children suffering and not able to go to to he doctors. Let them take pay cuts instead.

Add a comment

Name:

Comment: 500 Characters Left

Please post your full name and city on comments.

Comments are moderated and will not appear on this story until after they have been reviewed and deemed appropriate for posting.

ABC 6 and its affiliated companies are not responsible for the content of comments posted or for anything arising out of use of the above comments or other interaction among the users. We reserve the right to screen, refuse to post, remove or edit user-generated content at any time and for any or no reason in our absolute and sole discretion without prior notice, although we have no duty to do so or to monitor any Public Forum.
This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.

Online Poll

What Do You Think of the State's New Ability to Track Illegal Immigrants?

  • I Like it, illegal immigrants are finding work easily while I rot in line at the unemployment office
  • Bad Idea, These people are taking sub-minimum wage jobs anyway and actual citizens are getting snared in this E-Verify system

AP Video