[Comm-Council] FW: NEWS RELEASE: Governor Launches New Campaign with School and Community Coaches to Educate Families about Healthy Kids

Tue Aug 24 15:51:58 PDT 2010

Lonn Hoklin

Public Affairs Manager

Oregon Department of Administrative Services

503-378-2627

503-428-2169 (cell)

Data Classification: Level 1-Published

________________________________

From: TAYLOR Anna R * GOV [mailto:anna.r.taylor at state.or.us] 
Sent: Tuesday, August 24, 2010 3:47 PM
Subject: NEWS RELEASE: Governor Launches New Campaign with School and
Community Coaches to Educate Families about Healthy Kids

Theodore R. Kulongoski

          Governor

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                    

August 24, 2010

Media Contacts:

Anna Richter Taylor, 503-378-6169

Cathy Kaufmann (DHS), 503-569-4814

Governor Launches New Campaign with School and Community Coaches to
Educate Families about Healthy Kids

Governor joined by US HHS Secretary Sebelius to issue larger challenge
to all states to enroll all eligible kids in the Children's Health
Insurance Program

(Portland) -Governor Ted Kulongoski today was joined by Health and Human
Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius to launch a new Healthy Kids Sports
Campaign, bringing parents, coaches, schools and community partners
together to educate families about the availability of the Healthy Kids
Program for uninsured children of all income levels.

The campaign is part of Oregon's response to Secretary Sebelius'
"Connecting Kids to Coverage Challenge" which calls upon leaders in all
levels of government, public agencies, community based groups, health
and human services providers the faith community and others to reach out
and enroll the 5 million uninsured children who are eligible for
Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program but are not
enrolled.  

Nearly 54,000 of Oregon's 80,000 uninsured children have enrolled since
the plan was created by Governor Kulongoski and passed during the 2009
legislative session. 

"I am proud of this achievement - especially during this difficult
economic time when parents have enough to worry about. Ensuring their
child has access to quality, comprehensive health care when they need it
shouldn't be one of those worries," Governor Kulongoski said. 

Today Governor Ted said it is time to go the rest of the way while the
two spoke at an event at a Portland high school and enroll all eligible
but uninsured children into the state's health coverage program. The
state is on schedule to meet the goal of enrolling 80,000 uninsured
children by the end of 2010, which means 95% of all Oregon children will
have health insurance. 

"While we have been successful in enrolling children, we still have a
population of children from birth - 19 years old who are eligible for
the program and not enrolled.  That is not acceptable to me - and it
shouldn't be acceptable to any Oregonian," said the Governor 

The Governor called on all Oregonians to spread the word about Healthy
Kids, particularly school and community sports coaches. Because children
who play sports need a physical exam and health coverage to play, he
state is partnering with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
to implement a statewide campaign aimed at coaches.

"So please, coaches across Oregon join us in this effort.  Your
victories on the field are important, but the greatest victory for
Oregon will be when all of our children have the health coverage they
need," said the Governor.

Healthy Kids provides several options for families to obtain health
insurance for their children, depending on income level. 

No Cost: The plan provides free coverage through the Oregon Health Plan
for children in families with incomes up to 200 percent of the federal
poverty level (or $44,100 for a family of four).

Low-Cost: The program offers a cost-share model to assist Oregon's
middle-class families earning too much to qualify for the Oregon Health
Plan, but too little to purchase private insurance on their own. On a
sliding scale, these families share in the cost of a new state-sponsored
private insurance plan called Healthy KidsConnect. 

Families who qualify for either No Cost or Low-Cost coverage may opt to
get assistance to pay for their child's coverage through their employer
sponsored plan instead.

Full Cost: For children in families with incomes above 300 percent of
the federal poverty level (or $66,000 for a family of four), parents may
buy into Healthy KidsConnect at full cost. 

No child is turned away for a preexisting medical condition. Parents can
learn more about Healthy Kids and apply online at 
www.oregonhealthykids.gov <http://www.oregonhealthykids.gov/>  or by
calling 1-877-314-5678.

-30-

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