Health Insurnace For Children

Approximately one in five young children in the U.S. lives in poverty during the early formative years that are so important to their healthy growth and development. Many of these children have little or no access to adequate child health care. In fact, recent studies reveal that more than nine million children living in the U.S. are not covered by medical insurance. For minority and underserved populations, this lack of insurance is even more critical, with almost 50 percent of Hispanic and African-American children not having any form of medical coverage.

As health care costs continue to increase, many parents--even those who live above poverty level--find themselves unable to afford the insurance necessary to protect the mental and physical health of their growing children. Without access to comprehensive health services, children can miss out on valuable preventative measures and early diagnosis and treatment of problems. Regular visits to health professionals help ensure that vaccines are administered on time and health concerns are addressed promptly before they can become serious or even life-threatening.

Fortunately, there are programs and resources available to help families protect their children and ensure a healthier future. Several organizations endorse the importance of comprehensive health care for children. The American Academy of Pediatrics supports legislation to expand and improve insurance benefits for children, and the Children's Defense Fund uses nonprofit funds to lobby for laws that will protect children and not leave any child behind. Through such efforts, organizations are helping to further children's development and promote the overall health of the nation.

Affording Insurance

Families who cannot afford health insurance have several options for providing for their child's health. One resource is the Children's Health Insurance Program, or CHIP. The federal government developed CHIP in 1997 to help parents who earn too much to qualify for Medicaid but not enough to afford the expense of private insurance coverage. Through this program, children can receive checkups, immunizations, prescriptions, vision care, and hospital care. For children who are at a high risk of developmental or physical challenges, CHIP is an important way of protecting their health and promoting peace of mind for their families. Each state implements its CHIP program differently. See Resources (below) to get information on what your CHIP program is called and who qualifies for CHIP in your state.

Many communities offer free clinics that do not require insurance to treat children. These clinics are often based in universities or funded by government agencies. Although they may not provide all the services of private hospitals, they often help meet children's most essential health care needs. For example, the Georgia Department of Health supports the Babies Can't Wait program that allows children who have been diagnosed with developmental delays to receive evaluations and assessments until the age of three, no matter what their family income.

Determining whether such clinics are available in your community can be as simple as calling the local health department or doing a quick search on the Internet and calling to verify what services are available. These programs often are listed as "early childhood intervention."

Childcare Links

Even with programs available for children's health care, many parents do not utilize these services. Many families simply do not know that these resources exist; or, are aware of them, they misunderstand the eligibility requirements.

Childcare providers can educate parents about the importance and availability of comprehensive health care. To do so, caregivers must be aware of the financial and medical situations of families with children in their care and communicate frequently with parents about their needs. Strong listening skills are important, as is the ability to observe behavior and patterns of potential illness to determine whether a child is receiving adequate health care or any health services at all. Simple organizational mechanisms, such as creating a health record for each child that includes immunization records and physician and health insurance information (if available), can help providers stay abreast of the needs of children in their care.

Consider the following ways in which childcare providers can develop a rapport with parents to promote healthy practices and to ensure that a child's medical needs are being met.

• Create a packet with information about the importance of health care for the parents of new children in your program. Include an information sheet and application form for your state's CHIP program and information about Insure Kids Now, an organization that helps families who qualify for CHIP obtain coverage. You also might invite parents to talk with you about any questions they may have.
• Develop a list of clinics in your area that offer free or low-cost services to families without insurance. Referrals from parents who have used these services also can be a good source of information.
• Introduce parents to one another and provide outings for them to interact. Parents often will share childrearing concerns and valuable resources, which provides an excellent opportunity for them to share information about the value of regular check-ups and comprehensive health coverage.
• Invite a CHIP representative to meet with families. Promote this meeting through handouts and one-on-one conversations with parents.
• Work with underprivileged families and those with language barriers to ensure that they understand the importance of health insurance, perhaps even involving someone who can translate or help non-English speakers communicate in their native language. In addition, provide information about CHIP eligibility for legal immigrants so parents know they can get health coverage even if their children were not born in the U.S. Native American families may not know that they can receive many benefits even if they already receive benefits from the Indian Health Service.

Childcare providers can partner with their local CHIP office to improve understanding of eligibility requirements or invite a public health nurse to visit their center and provide families with information about immunizations and screenings. By being knowledgeable about specific programs and benefits available in your state and sharing this information with parents, childcare providers can play an important role in attaining health coverage for children.

Diona L. Reeves
Health Communications Specialist, CYKE, Inc.

Insure Kids Now to learn more about health insurance options for children within your state; 877-KIDS-NOW; www.insurekidsnow.gov

Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services to learn more about CHIP outreach and enrollment, including immigrant eligibility; 877-267-2323; www.cms.hhs.gov/schip.

OTHER RESOURCES

Children's Defense Fund, 25 E St. NW, Washington, DC 2000;
202-628-8787; www.childrensdefense.org

State and local health departments. State and local and health departments can be one of the best resources for learning about necessary child health care and services that are available to families. These departments are usually listed in local telephone yellow pages. The websites of state health departments can be particularly helpful and usually can be found by going to your state government's home page, which will usually be located by a simple search on the state name.

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