Published: May 09, 2008 07:58 pm            

GUEST VIEW: Recognizing the young and uninsured

No child in our nation should go without health insurance. Yet, nationwide there are 9 million uninsured children. In New York state, 415,000 children do not have health insurance and in Niagara County alone 4,000 children are uninsured.

Children who lack health insurance do not have access to a doctor for preventive care. Uninsured children are much less likely to receive immunizations, dental and vision services and medical care for conditions such as sore throats, ear infections and asthma. Research shows that uninsured children are 30 percent less likely than insured children to receive medical treatment if they are injured.

The achievement gap between healthy students and less healthy students is also well documented. Children with health care coverage are better prepared to learn in school and better prepared to succeed in life.

Health insurance can dramatically improve health outcomes for children and can make a critical difference in their lives.

Interestingly, 75 percent of the uninsured children in our state are eligible to receive public health insurance through the Child Health Plus or Medicaid programs. We have found, however, that the lack of information on eligibility standards and on how to apply for health insurance often stands in the way of health insurance enrollment.

The Western Regional Office of the New York State Department of Health has embarked upon a community outreach initiative to bring health insurance coverage to uninsured children and their families. The project reaches out to community-based groups, health and human service providers, schools and faith-based organizations to provide education and training on how public health insurance works. The program informs participants about how they can connect uninsured children and their families to trained experts who will provide families application and enrollment assistance at convenient community sites.

This innovative program, which started in Erie and Monroe counties, is now being expanded to serve Niagara County.

The Niagara County-based Health Insurance Outreach and Enrollment initiative was officially launched May 2 when scores of concerned community, health care, government and religious leaders come together at Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center to recognize “Cover the Uninsured Week.”

The outpouring of local support for this exciting outreach project demonstrates that the Niagara community is united in its commitment to enroll every eligible uninsured child and family in health insurance.

To learn more about the Health Insurance Outreach and Enrollment project, please contact Mary Rose Gaughan at the New York State Department of Health’s Western Regional Office at 847-4346.

Sheila K. Kee is associate commissioner of the state Department of Health.

        

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