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Westmoreland County Hosts Week of the Uninsured, May 10-14 -- Qualifying
Families Can Enroll in CHIP, adultBasic Insurance Programs
Posted 05-03-2004
The Westmoreland County Board of Commissioners, in conjunction with the Highmark
Caring Foundation, county representatives in the state General Assembly, and local
community partners, are proud to proclaim May 10-14 as "Week of the Uninsured in
Westmoreland County." During the week, partners will host Children's Health Insurance
Program (CHIP) and adultBasic health plan information / sign-up sessions at various
locations throughout the county to help uninsured families.
In Pennsylvania, there are more than
400,000 uninsured adults and more than 225,000 uninsured children. These numbers are
continuing to increase because of rising health care costs and other economic factors.
"Dependable health insurance coverage
is one of the most important securities for families," said Westmoreland County Board
of Commissioners Chairman Tom Balya. "All of the advances in medical science are only
as good as the access you have to them, and, unfortunately, there are many families that
do not get the medical attention they need because they simply cannot afford it. We are
proud to help co-sponsor these events to let people know that help is available."
Information/enrollment sessions will be
held at the following locations during the week:
Monday, May 10 - Westmoreland County
Courthouse lobby, Greensburg (8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.)
Tuesday, May 11 - Community Health Center,
Eastgate 8, Fourth Floor Conference Room C, Monessen (10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.)
Wednesday, May 12 - Community Health
Clinic, Inc., 251 Seventh Street, Suite F, New Kensington (10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.)
Thursday, May 13 - Adelphoi USA, Ridgeway
Academy School cafeteria, 100 Village Way, Latrobe (3:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.)
The CHIP program provides health insurance
coverage for children 18 years of age and younger who are not eligible for Medical
Assistance. Benefits include doctor office visits, diagnostic testing, immunizations,
emergency and dental care, and hospitalization. The adultBasic program covers eligible
adults age 19-64. Benefits include preventive care, doctor visits, prescription discounts,
and emergency and maternity care. Income guidelines determine eligibility for the
programs.
"The Children's Health Insurance
Program and adultBasic are among Pennsylvania's most important legislative initiatives. It
is essential that we provide affordable, accessible health care to working families and
their children," said State Senator Allen Kukovich. "I am proud to partner with
the Board of Commissioners, the Caring Foundation, and my legislative colleagues in an
effort to raise awareness about these programs. It is our responsibility to insure adults
and children who are eligible for these benefits know that help is available."
Sen. Kukovich introduced the original CHIP
bill that became law in 1993.
A representative of the Highmark Caring
Foundation will be available at each site to distribute CHIP and adultBasic health
insurance application information. Applications can be completed on site, and assistance
will be available. Applicants should bring income documentation from the last four weeks.
Examples include pay stubs, a denial letter from Medical Assistance, and a financial
determination from unemployment with the weekly benefit rate.
"The CHIP program has given uninsured
children with unmet medical, dental, and vision needs access to routine health care and
the ability to be seen by the same network of physicians and hospitals as those with
private insurance," said Barbara Breitenstein of the Highmark Caring Foundation.
"Highmark is grateful for the commitment and participation of the dedicated community
partners who provide on-going assistance for uninsured persons in their own neighborhoods
throughout the year, and especially now during the national 'Cover the Uninsured Week'
events that will take place in Westmoreland County."
Since 1985, the Highmark Caring Foundation
has provided health care coverage to more than 230,000 uninsured children through the
Caring Program for Children and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), as well as
38,000 adults through the Commonwealth's adultBasic program.
For more information,
including eligibility guidelines, visit the Highmark Caring Foundation at www.wpacaringfoundation.com. |
