UNINSURED CHILDREN: Kaiser Permanente Expands Eligibility
Due to the success of California's Healthy Families Program, Kaiser Permanente announced yesterday that it is expanding eligibility for its children's health plan. Previously, the Kaiser Permanente Cares for Kids Child Health Plan was open to children from families with an income between 200% and 275% of the federal poverty level (FPL). The program will now serve children from families with incomes between 250% and 300% of the FPL. "We don't want to duplicate coverage," Kaiser Permanente Cares for Kids Director Jean Nudelman said. "Our commitment has been ... reaching those children not eligible for publicly or privately subsidized programs." Kaiser launched the program last year and since then "has committed $100 million to provide coverage for 50,000 children in California." The eligibility changes are effective immediately (Kaiser Permanente release, 11/30).
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