More kids qualify for
free health insurance

The family income limit for state
QUEST and Medicaid rises

A family of four earning up to $44,520 annually can now qualify for free medical insurance for their children through the state's QUEST and Medicaid programs.

The federal government has raised family income limits for the public health insurance to help families previously ruled ineligible because of slightly higher income, said Barbara Luksch, Hawaii Covering Kids Project director.

The figure for a family of four is $1,152 more than last year's limit, and the guidelines are retroactive to Jan. 1, she said.

Luksch urged families to reapply if they have been denied benefits and fit within the new limits.

Hawaii Covering Kids was established as a project of the Hawaii State Primary Care Association to try to find uninsured children and sign them up for the state's health insurance programs.

More than 9,000 additional children were enrolled and retained in QUEST and Medicaid last year, "which is incredible for our state," Luksch said.

Enrollment in QUEST and Medicaid in December 2003 totaled 89,481 kids, she said. Last December, the figure was 98,691.

Luksch attributed the growth to changes in the program.

The question was a huge barrier for grandparents and others concerned about reporting absent parents, she said, noting a computer link with the Child Support Enforcement Program.

"So, we've eliminated barriers, and we've got more outreach workers in our community," Luksch said. "It's been great."

In addition, she said Covering Kids is partnering with MedQUEST to hold training workshops for agencies and organizations that have contact with families and can help them apply for free health insurance. She said about 30 percent of applications were being denied because people did not answer all the questions.

Since expansion of outreach workers and the training program, application denials have dropped to 9.5 percent, she said.

Covering Kids' latest project is to partner with 150 pharmacies statewide to distribute half-page fliers asking, "Do you know a child who needs free or low-cost health insurance?"

The "bag stuffer" explains what is covered and lists a hot-line number, a Web site address and other information, she said.

The flier has been translated into 13 languages besides English, Luksch said, "and we're working on more to try to get the word out to immigrant communities."