Back-To-School: Promoting Free and Low-Cost Health Insurance for Kids

There are more than 8 million uninsured children in America. These children do not have access to regular doctor visits, immunizations and eye exams they need to stay healthy, which negatively impacts their ability to grow and learn. MOST of these kids (from birth to age 19) are eligible for low-cost and free health insurance through the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) and Medicaid, regardless of their health status. Unfortunately, their parents do not believe they qualify.

School staff can be instrumental in efforts to enroll eligible children in free or low-cost health insurance. Conducting child health insurance outreach at school is a common sense, high-impact strategy for a number of reasons:

• School staff see the problems first hand. Schools are one place where the negative effects of a lack of medical attention are directly felt. Teachers and other school staff can often detect student performance problems linked to health concerns. Screening children for eligibility for free or low-cost health insurance, and then making sure they get signed up, are the first steps toward helping them get needed care.
• Schools may already provide health services. Schools may provide some health services, either through a school-based clinic or a visiting or in-school nurse or counselor. Staff who provide these services can help students get health coverage too. If the school is already certified to receive Medicaid reimbursements, helping students enroll in Medicaid is in the school's financial interest. Schools may need to coordinate closely with local managed care organizations to work out the details of serving children in the Medicaid program.
• Schools are trusted institutions. Parents tend to trust schools and the information they provide. Hearing about Medicaid or other child health insurance programs from their child's school may diminish the stigma that is often associated with receiving public benefits.
• School staff may have eligible children. Many school or school-related employees may have incomes which would make their children eligible for Medicaid or other child health insurance programs. As a local employer, schools can provide information about these opportunities.

Covering Kids: Back To School Campaign

NEA HIN encourages teachers, school administrators, counselors and school nurses to join the Covering Kids National Back-to-School Effort, a national initiative of The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation working to connect uninsured children to low-cost and free health care coverage programs in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

The Covering Kids Back-to-School Action Kit has all of the tools you need to let parents know about the low-cost and free health care coverage that is available for kids. As trusted advisors, educational employees have the opportunity to reach families and spread the word about the low-cost and free health care coverage programs available in their state.

The Back-To-School Action Kit includes (go to the kit or visit specific elements below):

• Fliers to send home with report cards (English and Spanish)
• Coloring Book Pages (3) to use in class activities
• Fact Sheets can educate your colleagues on the consequences of being uninsured
• Template Drop-in Articles for Elementary School and Opinion Editorial (Op-Ed) for High Schools
• Bookmarks to hand out to students
• Posters to decorate classrooms
• Other marketing and promotional pieces for working with school and ommunity partners and parents.
  

Strategies for Schools

• Educational employees around the country are already promoting free and low-cost health insurance for kids. Check out these tips for reaching out to students and families.

Resources for Families

• Learn more about free and low cost health insurance in your state.