Sarah Weber's husband works for a small bottled-water company in Anchorage. She actually worries that he could get a raise, because it might knock her three children off their government health insurance. If they lose their coverage through Denali KidCare, the family still won't have enough money to buy health insurance on their own. "There's a really big gap between people that qualify for Denali KidCare and the people who can afford major medical," says Weber.

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In 2009, with the recession making it tougher for many families to meet expenses, expanding Denali KidCare, the State Children's Health Insurance Program, is more important than ever.

Yet Alaska's program ranks below what most states offer, even while we have oil revenues other states would envy and a $30 billion savings account.

During the 2008 legislative session, a proposal to extend health insurance to more children in working Alaska families like the Webers passed the state Senate but stalled in the House.

With conservatives still in control of the House, the same thing could happen this year unless the public pushes back.

Alaskans should keep the pressure on legislators to make health insurance more available for children and pregnant women, who are also covered in Denali KidCare.

Yes, state oil revenues are dropping. But we are still a wealthy state with billions of dollars in the bank and no statewide sales or income tax.

The federal government contributes 65 percent of the funding, making it a bargain to keep our kids healthy.

Alaska's SCHIP plan covers pregnant women and children in families earning up to 175 percent of the federal poverty level, which this year amounts to $38,500 for a family of three.

Most states offer government health insurance to families earning double or more the poverty rate -- in Alaska, that's $44,000 for the three-member family. Expanding it to that level will cost Alaska less than $1 million per year and will make 1,300 more children and 225 more pregnant women eligible, the Palin administration says.

To further cut down the number of uninsured Alaska children -- estimated at 18,000 in 2007 -- the state should allow higher-income families to buy into the plan.

Rep. Les Gara, one of several legislators who support the idea of the optional add-on, says the state can buy insurance for children at less cost than people who have to buy their own coverage.

A bill he introduced in 2007 would let families purchase Denali KidCare if they earn from 200 percent to 350 percent of the poverty level, and if affordable health insurance is not available through their work.

Having that flexibility would make a difference to Sarah Weber. It would allow young families like hers to get established without fear that a medical emergency could bring them down.

At one time, her oldest son had a heart condition that would have left the family in financial ruin without Denali KidCare, she said. All of a sudden he needed an EKG and an MRI of his brain, visits to a neurologist and a cardiologist.

"He's healthy now. If it does happen again, I don't want to be slammed with $50,000 of medical debt," said Weber.

Except for the reluctance of the state House, signs are optimistic for a strong children's health insurance program this year.

With Barack Obama in the White House, federal support for state programs like Denali KidCare is assured. He campaigned on a platform of expanding government health insurance for kids. The federal program needs to be re-authorized by Congress in the spring.

And this year, Gov. Sarah Palin has also stepped up, saying she believes Alaska should put enough money into Denali KidCare to cover families earning as much as double the poverty rate. Last year, Palin did not support increases.

At the same time, the recession makes it tougher for families to pay bills, let alone buy health insurance for their children.

There are no good excuses for Alaska to continue with such a stingy children's health insurance program.

BOTTOM LINE: Alaskans should push legislators to help more working families with children's health insurance.

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