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Major Health Fair Launches Statewide Campaign to Enroll Eligible,Uninsured Pennsylvania Children in Medical Assistance and CHIP

Posted on: Thursday, 11 August 2005, 15:00 CDT

PHILADELHPIA, Aug. 11 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Despite outreach and enrollment efforts, more than 133,000 children remain uninsured even though they qualify for coverage under public programs. Most are eligible for Medical Assistance and Pennsylvania Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), the state's low-cost or free health care coverage programs for children.

Mayor John Street and the Greater Philadelphia Children's Health Insurance Coalition co-chaired by Philadelphia Citizens for Children and Youth (PCCY) today kicked off a series of local events that will take place in Philadelphia and across the state to enroll eligible uninsured children in Medical Assistance and CHIP. Philadelphia is one of six cities in the United States selected by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation of Princeton, N.J., as a part of its nationwide Back-to-School Campaign to get kids insured. The campaign asks parents to put enrolling in Medical Assistance or Pennsylvania CHIP at the top of their back-to-school checklist.

The press conference was held at Health Center Six in conjunction with a major, health fair. The health fair included health screenings, giveaways, the Eagles Eye Mobile, appearances by the Philadelphia Phillies' mascot, The Phillie Phanatic, and a performance by hip-hop artist Benny Cassette.

This press conference launched more than 50 activities across Pennsylvania during August and September to enroll eligible children in Pennsylvania. The Philadelphia Federation of Teachers will hand out bookmarks and information for parents at the Tri-State Labor Day parade. There will be dozens of health fairs and community events throughout the Philadelphia region to inform parents about low-cost or free health care coverage and to help with applications. The Mayor's office has also been seeking to increase children's health coverage enrollment by placing enrollment counselors in the city's health centers.

"All of us, children and adults, have a right to decent health care; health insurance is the best way to ensure decent health care for all," said Dr. Joanne Godley, Acting Commissioner of the Philadelphia Department of Public Health. "I am proud that the Philadelphia Department of Public Health is working to reach and enroll all eligible children in free and affordable health insurance, like CHIP and Medical Assistance. Insurance counselors in each of our Philadelphia Health Care Centers are available to help Philadelphia families sign up for eligible programs."

Last week, a new study by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation found that uninsured Hispanic and African-American children are less likely to receive medical care than uninsured non-Hispanic white children. Nationally, more than 40 percent (41.4 percent) of uninsured Hispanic children went without any medical care during the year, compared to just a quarter (24.7 percent) of uninsured non- Hispanic white children. Uninsured African-American children (14.7 percent) are less likely to receive all needed medical care than uninsured non-Hispanic white children (3.9 percent).

"All of Pennsylvania's children deserve affordable health care coverage. Yet, every day Pennsylvania families with uninsured children are unnecessarily forced to make hard choices in caring for their kids," said Shelly Yanoff, executive director of PCCY. "With this campaign, we hope to inform more parents that Medical Assistance and CHIP can help them improve their children's health and quality of life."

Medical Assistance and Pennsylvania CHIP coverage include checkups, sick visits, prescription drugs, lab tests, X-rays, dental care, emergency room care, hospital stays, vision care, eyeglasses, hearing care, hearing aids, and behavioral health services. A family of four earning up to $46,000 a year or more may qualify. Parents of uninsured children in Pennsylvania can call toll-free 1-800-986- KIDS to find out if their children are eligible for low-cost or free health care coverage.

New Jersey, through its Family Care Program, and Delaware, through its Delaware's Healthy Children Program, provide similar coverage for uninsured kids in their respective states. Families in other states can call 1-877-KIDS-NOW.

The source of the new analysis on minority populations, "Going Without: America's Uninsured Children," was released last week by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation as part of the Covering Kids & Families Back-to-School Campaign. The research was prepared by analysts at the State Health Access Data Assistance Center, located at the University of Minnesota, and the Urban Institute in Washington, D.C. The report analyzes data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics, including the 2003 National Survey of Children's Health and the 2003 National Health Interview Survey.

To locate Covering Kids & Families activities or download materials in English or Spanish, visit http:// www.coveringkidsandfamilies.org.

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http://www.usnewswire.com

Source: U.S. Newswire

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