More than 850,000 Texas children eligible for -- but not enrolled in -- Medicaid and CHIP
1.5 million Texas children who don't have health insurance, more than 850,000 are eligible for the Children's Health Insurance Program or Medicaid but are not enrolled. The state Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner announced today. There is a huge urgency to spread the word about the health care programs so we can provide care to Texas children.
"Texas is a very large state, and it's very difficult to get that information out," CHIP/Children's Medicaid outreach campaign manager Geoff Wool told U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, who was in Austin for an update on the programs. "We're really looking at every opportunity that's available to let families know about these programs.”
Seventy five percent of children qualify for Medicaid, which is a free program. The rest of the children qualify for CHIP a program that is to help families who make to much money for Medicaid, but can not afford private insurance.
One of Houston’s Pilot programs, relies on churches to spread the word about Medicaid and CHIP, and is hoping it will go statewide .As a debate continues in Washington on whether to expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program, Cornyn said it's important to focus on enrolling eligible Texas children.
"The sad part is that Texas has a United States senator that had the opportunity to stand up for Texas children and chose not to," Noriega said. "And he comes back to Texas and panders."
In the year 2007, the Legislature lifted several administrative barriers to applying for CHIP. "We need to do the same for Medicaid," Best said. "These are the most vulnerable families."
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Magan had an interesting article about the Medicaid and CHIP programs and how many eligible Texas children arent signed up for it. I find it depressing that our state offers these programs to parents, yet doesnt help people become aware of these programs at all. We should really be doing much more in order to help these children get covered by the programs and better protect them. Magans article though, I feel, needs to have a little bit more insight from herself. She should comment on the article shes presenting, rather than just giving a summary. She might have even included some other facts or ideas to help promote and sign up children for these programs. Magan just needs to personalize her articles more. However, it is a good topic that needs to be discussed and focused on more and hopefully some more will be done over this issue to help get eligible children the care that they are offered. And the latest developments on this issue has potential in doing this.
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