Alabama, Montana and Oregon Expand Children's Health Coverage
The Center for Children and Families at Georgetown University, a leading authority on health coverage for children and families, reports on trends in child and family health coverage. CCF reports that three more states expanded coverage to more uninsured children today while Congress continues to debate national health reform. This is an indication of the strong public support for providing affordable health care options to families.
Washington, D.C. (PRWEB) October 1, 2009 -- Today, three more states moved forward with their plans to expand affordable health coverage to more uninsured children. The states opening enrollment to more children in their Children's Health Insurance Programs are: Alabama, Montana, and Oregon.
"These three states honored their commitments to protect their most vulnerable residents - uninsured children," said Joan Alker Co-Executive Director of the Center for Children and Families (CCF) at Georgetown University. "This is a testament to the strong public support for providing affordable health care options to families."
Starting today:
| | - Uninsured children in Alabama from families earning up to 300% of the federal poverty level (FPL), or $54,930 for a family of 3, will be eligible to enroll in All Kids, the state's Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). This is an increase from 200% of the FPL.
- The Healthy Montana Kids Plan will open its doors to children from families earning up to 250% of FPL ($45,775 for a family of 3), expanding CHIP eligibility from 175% of the FPL.
- In Oregon, children from families earning up to 200% FPL ($36,520 for a family of 3) will now be eligible for the Oregon Healthy Kids, an increase from 185% of the FPL.
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These three states are among the twenty-three that improved children's health coverage this year. They were featured in a recent CCF report "Weathering the Storm: States Move Forward on Child and Family Health Coverage Despite Tough Economic Climate." The report is available at: http://ccf.georgetown.edu/
"Many state leaders understand how desperately families need access to affordable healthcare options and they realize they can't wait until federal health reform is passed and takes effect," said Alker. "Strong health reform legislation will help sustain and strengthen these state efforts and ensure comprehensive health coverage for our children and their families."
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