RICHARD WALKER / RWALKER@STARBULLETIN.COM
The Tonga family posed on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Temple grounds yesterday. They are, clockwise from top, Alexsia, 5; mother Telesia; Tiueti, 2; Elisiva, 4 months; Lela, 1; and father Walter.
Health insurance
free for some kidsChildren up to age 19
may get chargeless benefits
based on family size and income
Telesia and Walter Tonga were expecting their fourth child but had no health insurance.
The stress caused Telesia's blood pressure to shoot up, Walter said.
"At one point they couldn't find the baby's heartbeat, and that added to the stress."
The Tongas are getting some help: free health insurance for their children from Hawaii Covering Kids through Med-QUEST health insurance.
"Sia," 28, and her husband, 29, were working in Denver when terrorists attacked on Sept. 11, 2001. Afterward, she lost her job as a sales manager for a computer education company, and Walter lost his job as a United Airlines customer service representative.
They moved to Hawaii, where she was born and her husband was raised.
"It's kind of coming home for us," she said. Tonga enrolled in Brigham Young University to study international business management, and her husband found work as a tour guide. When she gets her degree in June, Walter will return to college as a sophomore. His goal is to become a dentist.
The family found student housing in Laie, and Telesia got BYU health insurance, which covered her pregnancy.
But the plan was too expensive for them to insure the children (now ages 6, 2, 1 and 4 months), she said.
"When I found out I was pregnant, I needed it processed, like, yesterday to get coverage for everybody," Tonga said. "I can sleep better now knowing if one has an ear infection, I can go see a doctor and not be frustrated that we're not covered by anything."
Children up to age 19, including the children of working parents and immigrants, may be eligible for free health benefits.
Eligibility is based on family size and household income.
A family of four earning more than $42,000 a year could qualify for free health insurance for their children. Med-QUEST does not count assets if families apply for health care benefits only for their children.
Benefits include regular checkups, doctor visits, emergency care, eyeglasses, immunizations, counseling, prescription medicine and dental care.
Outreach worker Michelle Malufau said many families are unaware or misinformed about the programs or find the application process daunting.
"We want these parents to have peace of mind knowing their children can get the health care they need," Malufau said.
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Med-QUEST reaches out
Hawaii Covering Kids Kahuku Local Project is hosting an outreach event from 5 to 10 p.m. today at the Kahuku Project Grad Carnival at Laie Park to provide information about free health insurance for children through Med-QUEST.For more information, call Hawaii Covering Kids Kahuku Local Project at 211, Aloha United Way's free 24-hour hot-line service.
Star-Bulletin staff
