Healthy Kids Provides Coverage for Uninsured Children

Healthy Kids Humboldt has raised two-thirds of the funds necessary to reach its first-year goal of providing health insurance to 150 of the county's uninsured children, the Eureka Reporter reports.

The county program has partnered with CalKids, a private insurer, to provide health, dental and vision insurance to families whose incomes that exceed limits for Healthy Families or Medi-Cal but are unable to afford insurance for their children. Healthy Families is California's health insurance program for children from low- and moderate-income households, and Medi-Cal is the state's Medicaid program.

There are about 4,500 uninsured children in Humboldt County, about 900 of whom are estimated to be eligible for its Healthy Kids program.

CalKids annual premiums are $600 per child. Families' annual contributions are $120 per child, with a $360 maximum regardless of the number of children enrolled. Contributions from public and private donors cover the remaining costs.

Susan Buckley -- program manager for the county maternal, child and adolescent health program -- said Healthy Kids Humboldt aims to enroll 150 uninsured children this year and twice that number by the end of 2007 (Harrison, Eureka Reporter, 11/20).