The state's big health insurance companies and the Children's Defense Fund are among the major financial supporters of Initiative 155, the measure to expand government-funded health coverage for children.

Through June 10, the political committee supporting I-155 had spent about $115,000 to help place the measure on the November ballot, according to reports filed with the state.

I-155, if approved by voters, would expand eligibility for the Children's Health Insurance Plan and Medicaid, which are government programs providing health coverage to low- and middle-income families.

The expansions would cover as many as 30,000 Montana children who are without health insurance.

I-155 also could spend public money on private insurance plans, paying to cover children who are added to a parent's private policy -- if the family meets the Medicaid or CHIP guidelines.

Supporters of I-155 said Tuesday they have enough signatures to qualify it for the ballot.

Much of the money raised by Healthy Montana Kids First, the committee organized to support I-155, has gone to paid signature-gatherers.

Some of the committee's big individual donors include the Children's Defense Fund ($25,000), Montana Blue Cross and Blue Shield, the state's largest health insurer ($10,000), Dirk Visser, chief executive officer of Allegiance Life & Health Insurance Co. of Missoula ($15,000), state Sen. Dan Weinberg, D-Whitefish ($10,000), Whitefish attorney Greg Lane ($10,000), the Service Employers International Union ($10,000), and New West Health Services, the state's second largest health insurer ($2,500).

A broad coalition of groups also has been supporting the signature-gathering effort or has endorsed I-155, said state Auditor John Morrison, who chairs Healthy Montana Kids.

It includes AARP-Montana, the Montana Nurses Association, YMCA Alliance of Montana, Families USA, Working for Equality and Economic Liberation, the Montana-Wyoming Tribal Leaders Conference, Montana Human Rights Network and Montana Sheriffs and Peace Officers.