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Detroit Public Schools Launch Campaign to Provide Access to Free and Low Cost Health Insurance for Kids and Families

Posted on: Wednesday, 11 October 2006, 15:01 CDT

DETROIT, Oct. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Census bureau has just released data indicating that more than 11% of Michiganders -- about 1.13 million people including 160,000 children -- didn't have health insurance in 2005. The number of uninsured nationwide increased 2.9% to 46.6 million in 2005 including 8.3 million children.

State, local and school officials gathered Wednesday, October 11 to launch a year-long enrollment effort to make sure that kids have access to health care including glasses needed to see a computer screen, routine doctor visits, dental care and prescriptions.

Of the 160,000 uninsured children in Michigan, approximately 70 percent of these children are eligible for low-cost or free health care coverage through Medicaid or MIChild, but have not yet enrolled. Michigan families of four earning up to $40,000 or more may qualify. Information is available by dialing 2-1-1, United Way for Southeastern Michigan's call center.

Associate Superintendent for Detroit Public Schools, Anne Smith, Ph.D., today announced the launch of a partnership with the Detroit Wayne County Health Authority and United Way for Southeastern Michigan's 2-1-1 call center, to make sure that Detroit's school children have access to affordable health care.

"We know that children who have health insurance are healthier and better prepared to learn in school and better equipped to succeed in life," said Dr. Smith. "Our schools are an ideal place to reach out to children and their families to make sure that each child has the health coverage they need."

It is estimated that there are 50,000 uninsured children in Detroit and Wayne County. Many of these children are from Detroit's public schools.

"Medicaid and MIChild provide a much-needed safety net for Detroit and Michigan's children. These programs provide free and low cost health care coverage for kids in families that meet the criteria," said Chris Allen, CEO of the Detroit Wayne County Health Authority. "Because of these programs, working parents don't have to choose between filling the refrigerator and filling a prescription. The Detroit Public Schools are the ideal place to reach out to parents to make sure their children are covered."

Parents can enroll their children in any of the following ways: * Complete your child's school health form and indicate whether or not they have health coverage. A school health professional will follow-up and help you enroll your child. * Simply dial 2-1-1 or 1-800-552-1183. Professional consultants will help determine if your child qualifies for Medicaid or MIChild and walk you through the enrollment over the phone. * Call the state of Michigan's 1 877 KIDS-NOW hotline. * Enroll on-line at http://www.michigan.gov/

"This partnership is about getting kids enrolled so that they can get the routine care they need," said Allen. "It's about utilizing the programs we have in place to make sure that every child has health insurance. I urge any parent whose child does not have health insurance coverage to call 2-1-1. Just make the call."

"The MIChild program fills a critical gap of insurance coverage in Michigan," said Janet Olszewski, Director, Michigan Department of Public Health. "Healthy children and student achievement go together. A classroom filled with healthy children is a classroom filled with students who are ready to learn."

Since the inception of the MIChild program in 1998, a total of 142,053 children have received health insurance.

A new study analyzing government data suggests that the number of uninsured kids -- including those in Michigan -- is on the decline due to more kids being covered under public health care programs such as Medicaid and Michigan's MIChild program.

"The State of Kids' Coverage" report was recently released by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) as part of its Covering Kids & Families Back-to-School Campaign, a nationwide effort to enroll eligible children in Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).

The RWJF report was prepared by analysts at the State Health Access Data Assistance Center (SHADAC), located at the University of Minnesota. To view the research report, locate Covering Kids & Families activities, or download materials in English or Spanish, log on to or http://www.coveringkidsandfamilies.org/ .

Fast Facts:

About seven in 10 uninsured kids in Michigan are eligible for low-cost or free health care coverage through Medicaid or MIChild.

Children in a family of four earning up to $40,000 a year or more may qualify. Eligibility is based on family size and income.

Non-white children have higher rates of uninsurance than white children in the US.

Hispanic children have the highest incidence of uninsurance at 21 percent in 2003-2004.

Parents should call toll-free 1(877) KIDS-NOW OR dial United Way 2-1-1 in southeastern Michigan to find out if their children are eligible for coverage.

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation focuses on the pressing health and health care issues facing our country. As the nation's largest philanthropy devoted exclusively to improving the health and health care of all Americans, the Foundation works with a diverse group of organizations and individuals to identify solutions and achieve comprehensive, meaningful and timely change. For more information, visit http://www.rwjf.org/ . Survey information can be located at http://www.shadac.umn.edu/ at The University of Minnesota's State Health Access Data Assistance Center.

Detroit Wayne County Health Authority

CONTACT: Lekan Oguntoyinbo, +1-313-873-4542, Patty McCarthy,+1-313-882-9200, cell: +1-313-418-4155, both for Detroit Wayne County HealthAuthority

Web site: http://www.coveringkidsandfamilies.org/http://www.rwjf.org/http://www.shadac.umn.edu/

Source: PRNewswire

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