About Us:

Back-To-School: Promoting

Free and Low-Cost Health Insurance for Kids

There are more

than 8 million uninsured children in America. These children

do not have access to regular doctor visits, immunizations and

eye exams they need to stay healthy, which negatively impacts

their ability to grow and learn. MOST of these kids (from birth

to age 19) are eligible for low-cost and free health insurance

through the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP)

and Medicaid, regardless of their health status. Unfortunately,

their parents do not believe they qualify.

School staff

can be instrumental in efforts to enroll eligible children in

free or low-cost health insurance. Conducting child health insurance

outreach at school is a common sense, high-impact strategy for

a number of reasons:

  • School

    staff see the problems first hand. Schools are

    one place where the negative effects of a lack of medical

    attention are directly felt. Teachers and other school

    staff can often detect student performance problems linked

    to health concerns. Screening children for eligibility

    for free or low-cost health insurance, and then making

    sure they get signed up, are the first steps toward helping

    them get needed care.

  • Schools

    may already provide health services. Schools may

    provide some health services, either through a school-based

    clinic or a visiting or in-school nurse or counselor. Staff

    who provide these services can help students get health

    coverage too. If the school is already certified to receive

    Medicaid reimbursements, helping students enroll in Medicaid

    is in the school’s financial interest. Schools may need

    to coordinate closely with local managed care organizations

    to work out the details of serving children in the Medicaid

    program.

  • Schools

    are trusted institutions. Parents tend to trust

    schools and the information they provide. Hearing about

    Medicaid or other child health insurance programs from

    their child’s school may diminish the stigma that is often

    associated with receiving public benefits.

  • School

    staff may have eligible children. Many school or

    school-related employees may have incomes which would make

    their children eligible for Medicaid or other child health

    insurance programs. As a local employer, schools can provide

    information about these opportunities.

Covering

Kids: Back To School Campaign

NEA HIN encourages

teachers, school administrators, counselors and school nurses

to join the Covering

Kids National Back-to-School Effort, a national

initiative of The Robert Wood Johnson

Foundation working to connect uninsured children to low-cost

and free health care coverage programs in all 50 states and the

District of Columbia.

The Covering

Kids Back-to-School Action Kit has all of the tools you need

to let parents know about the low-cost and free health care coverage

that is available for kids. As trusted advisors, educational

employees have the opportunity to reach families and spread the

word about the low-cost and free health care coverage programs

available in their state.

The Back-To-School

Action Kit includes (go to the kit or visit specific elements

below):

Strategies

for Schools

  • Educational

    employees around the country are already promoting free and

    low-cost health insurance for kids. Check out these tips for

    reaching out to students and families.

Resources

for Families

  • Learn more

    about free and low cost health insurance in your state.

 

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