A waiver, that would allow California parents in need to be able to receive medical insurance benefits through the Healthy Families program, could be approved by the Department of Health and Human Services by the end of the month. The federal government put the waiver on the back burner due to the September 11th terror attacks. Betty Stark of the Amador County Community Action Committee said the need is there for government funded insurance for parents.

The program originally offered insurance to only children of families in need. 17 other states have already added parents to the program.