Thousands Eligible, not Enrolled, in Public Insurance for Kids

More than 850,000 of the 1.5 million Texas children who don’t have health insurance are eligible for but not enrolled in the Children’s Health Insurance Program or Medicaid, a state official says.

Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner Albert Hawkins made the statement Tuesday during an appearance with Republican U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, telling the senator the state has begun new efforts to reach eligible families.

Children’s advocates say the numbers, based on a commission analysis of census data, underscore the urgency of spreading the word about the programs, which provide health insurance for one in three Texas children.

“Texas is a very large state, and it’s very difficult to get that information out,” CHIP/Children’s Medicaid outreach campaign manager Geoff Wool told Cornyn. “We’re really looking at every opportunity that’s available to let families know about these programs.”

Cornyn’s visit came as he gears up for his re-election run next year. His critics, including Democratic candidate Rick Noriega, will probably focus on his vote against a CHIP expansion bill, which President Bush later vetoed.

As a debate continues in Washington on whether to expand the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, Cornyn said it’s important to focus on enrolling those children who are eligible.

“My goal is to try to make sure … we get them enrolled before we take our eye off the ball and we then look at perhaps growing the program,” he said.

Of the eligible Texas youngsters who are not enrolled in the programs, 75 percent qualify for Medicaid, a free program.

The rest qualify for CHIP, a smaller low-cost insurance program designed for families that earn too much to qualify for Medicaid but cannot afford private insurance. Both provide checkups, immunizations, prescription drugs, hospital visits and dental care.

Texas has $3.5 million in contracts with 28 community organizations that tell people about the programs and help them sign up. The commission also runs radio ads and distributes brochures printed in English, Spanish and Vietnamese.

One Houston pilot program relies on the city’s 17 largest churches to help get the word out about Medicaid and CHIP. That model could be used statewide, Hawkins said.

In October, officials started calling parents whose applications were missing information rather than sending a letter, said Elisa Garza, the state’s CHIP director.

The enrollment problem is not unique to Texas.

Of the 9 million uninsured American children, 6 million meet their state’s CHIP or Medicaid requirements but are not enrolled, said Barbara Best, Texas executive director of the Children’s Defense Fund.

Information from the Austin American-Statesman: www.statesman.com

Topics Texas