Health Insurance Coming for 4 Million Low-Income Children

President Barack Obama is making good on one campaign promise: health care for lower-income children.

The House was expected to approve the expansion of a children's health insurance program Wednesday and deliver it to Obama for his quick signature. The bill passed the Senate last week.

Over the next four years, up to 13 million children could be covered under the program run by the Health and Human Services Department and state governments.

The bill calls for spending an additional $32.8 billion on the State Children's Health Insurance Program. To cover the increase in spending, lawmakers approved boosting the federal excise tax on a pack of cigarettes by 62 cents, to $1.01 a pack.

The legislation would allow states to offer a dental benefit through the program for children whose private health insurance does not cover dental care.

Source:  The Associated Press,  House Set to Pass Kids' Health Bill