Gathering Places
Gathering Places
THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL has started for many students and for others is just around the corner. With the opening bell comes a year of new possibilities but, unfortunately, many students may be at a serious disadvantage before they enter the classroom. Without health insurance,
can kids be kids?For children without health insurance, there are many obstacles. A child who cannot see the blackboard and doesn't have access to eyeglasses or does not feel well cannot take full advantage of classroom time or other school experiences. Not having health insurance often means that kids can't just be "kids."
Parents with uninsured children often face hard choices between paying the electric bill or paying the doctor; filling the refrigerator or filling a prescription. Many uninsured children head back to school without an annual checkup and there are many students who won't participate in extra-curricular activities -- not only because their parents fear an injury, but also because they fear the impact medical bills could have on their family budget.
An estimated 10 million children in the United States are uninsured and in Hawaii more than 22,000 children do not have health insurance. They are not as likely to receive proper medical care for childhood illnesses such as sore throats and earaches.When children have no health insurance, they also cannot take full advantage of classroom time. Research in Florida and Texas found that uninsured children are 25 percent more likely to miss school than their insured peers.
Fortunately, most uninsured children are eligible for free health insurance. Approximately 14,000 kids in Hawaii could be covered if their parents enrolled them in QUEST or Medicaid which pays for regular check-ups, doctor visits, emergency care, eyeglasses, immunizations, counseling, prescription medicines and dental care.
Last year, the state expanded its QUEST and Medicaid programs to include immigrants and children of working parents.
Children in a family of four making around $41,000 a year will qualify. Since eligibility is based on family size and income, larger families with higher incomes may also be eligible for free health insurance.
Health insurance is one of the most important tools to give children as they head back to school. If your children or children you know are uninsured, call 275-2000 (Oahu) or 1-877-275-6569 (Neighbor Islands free phone call) or log on to http://www.coveringkids.com for more information.
Barbara Luksch is project director for Hawaii Covering Kids.