Friday, August 3, 2007

Few Local Youngsters Have Qualified For CoverKids

   State officials indicate that only nineteen Lawrence County youngsters have, to-date, qualified to receive CoverKids Health Insurance coverage.

   CoverKids is part of the Cover Tennessee Program introduced by Governor Phil Bredesen in an effort to provide health insurance to uninsured Tennesseans. The program is administered through three different insurance programs and includes a pharmacy assistance program. It provides comprehensive health insurance for children up to the age of 19.

   The program is designed to provide coverage for youngsters across the state who are not eligible for coverage under the TennCare program, as well as for children of families with incomes of up to 2 ½ times the federal poverty level (approximately $51,625 per year for a family of four).

   Under the program, families pay no premiums or deductibles. Co-pays are based upon income.

   State officials point out that many more local children are eligible for coverage under the CoverKids program. They plan to distribute more than one million applications for the program, to be included in the back-to-school packets of students through the local school system.

   For additional information on the CoverKids Program or any other Cover Tennessee Program, visit the website at www.covertn.gov, or telephone 1-866-COVERTN.

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