By Lisa Autry
Frankfort, KY – The down economy has more Kentucky children receiving free or low-cost health insurance. Last October, Governor Beshear announced that some fifty-thousand kids were eligible for K-CHIP, but were not enrolled in the program. The state has since stepped up outreach efforts to parents. K-CHIP coordinator Lisa Lee says nine-thousand more children have been added in the past six months.
We have made many contacts within the communities; were're relying heavily on our community partners such as the schools, and physicians offices and health departments to help us identify these children and bring them in.
Governor Beshear sees the additional enrollees as a start, but says he's still not satisfied. The state has streamlined the application process. In-person interviews are no longer required. K-CHIP assistance is available for families with income below two-hundred percent of the federal poverty level.