State Budget Freeze Lifted On Children's Health Insurance

State lawmakers and the governor have come up with a plan to put thousands of children back on insurance rolls.

A budget freeze on

N.C. Health Choice

, that has been in effect since January, will be lifted. It will help working parents get low-cost or free insurance when they cannot afford private policies.

"It allows them to insure their children when they, otherwise, would not be able to," says Gov. Mike Easley.

"It's great because now I'll know that if one of my children gets sick, at least, it's covered now and at least, it's paid for. I won't have to worry about the whole entire bill," says parent Marion McNeil.

Another 11,000 to 13,000 children will be covered by N.C. Health Choice when the state approves its budget.