Events’ Goal: Enroll Uninsured in Several Health-Care Programs

By Jane Erikson, The Arizona Daily Star, Tucson

Apr. 25–Health fairs today, Friday and Saturday will seek to reduce the number of Southern Arizonans who have no health insurance.

It’s annual Cover the Uninsured Week, when health-care organizations across the country push to get eligible people enrolled for free and low-cost medical programs.

More than 1 million Arizonans are uninsured, including an estimated 250,000 children.

“If we’re going to do anything in this country about the uninsured problem, the first step is to get people into programs that they’re already eligible for but in many cases they just don’t know about,” said Bill Pike, public-policy director for Carondelet Health Network.

–El Rio Health Center’s health fair runs from 2 to 6 p.m. today at El Pueblo Neighborhood center, 101 W. Irvington Road, at South Sixth Avenue.

–Carondelet Health Network will host a fair from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday next to the indoor children’s playground at the Tucson Mall.

Programs that individuals and families can apply for include: –Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System: The AHCCCS state health plan is for residents within the federal poverty guideline. That’s an annual income of no more than $9,800 for one person or $20,000 for a family of four.

–KidsCare: For those age 18 and younger whose family incomes are between 100 percent and 200 percent of the federal poverty guideline — more than $20,000 and up to $40,000 per year for a family of four.

–KidsCare Parents: For parents whose children are on KidsCare. Income guidelines are the same as for KidsCare.

–Pima Community Access Program: PCAP is for individuals and families with no insurance and incomes between 100 percent and 250 percent of the poverty level, up to $51,625 for a family of four.

–Well Woman Health Check: Screens women for breast and cervical cancer. Eligibility is the same as for Pima Community Access.

Eligibility guidelines can vary from one family to the next, based on other financial factors. Families that think they may qualify should apply — even if they think their incomes fall outside the guidelines, program officials say.

Those interested in applying can call the programs directly:

–AHCCCS: 1-800-334-5283.

–KidsCare and KidsCare Parents: 1-877-764-5437.

–PCAP: 694-0418.

–Well Woman Health Check: 628-3591.

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Copyright (c) 2007, The Arizona Daily Star, Tucson

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