SAN JOSE, CA, Feb 28 (MARKET WIRE) --
America's uninsured and working poor looking to qualify for public health
programs got an economic assist this month as the 2008 Federal Poverty Level
(FPL) guidelines were increased by the federal government. The end result is
an increase in the number of citizens who can qualify for free or low cost
government health insurance, according to the Foundation for Health Coverage
Education (FHCE).
County, state and federal sponsored health coverage programs set eligibility
requirements based on the FPL guidelines that are updated every year. The
following is a sample range of how the increase impacts programs in different
states.
-- New Hampshire -- The income ceiling for a family of four for the
Healthy Kids program increased from $82,600 to $84,800 at 400% of the FPL
-- New York -- The income level for a family of four qualifying for Child
Health Plus increased from $51,625 to $53,000 a year at 250% of the FPL
-- California -- The income level for a family of 3 qualifying for Aid to
Mothers and Infants (married, pregnant woman) at 300% of the FPL increased
from $51,510 to $52,800
"It's important to get the word out about these increases because
nearly33% of the 47 million uninsured in America are eligible for
government-sponsored health insurance but aren't signed up," said Phil
Lebherz, founder of FHCE. Charged with the mission of educating Americans about
their public and private insurance options, the organization works on a
daily basis through its free U.S. Uninsured Help Line (1-800-234-1317) to
help get people enrolled in public program offerings.
The number of individuals designated as "poor" has increased approximately
10% over the
last decade.
National poverty data are calculated using the official Census definition of
poverty. Under this definition, poverty is determined by comparing pretax cash
income with the poverty threshold, which adjusts for family size and
composition. In 2007, according to the official measure, more than 36.5
million people, about 12.5 percent of the total U.S. population, lived in
poverty.
Lebherz and healthcare advocates believe that many people are simply unaware
of
these benefits, or are unsure how to sign up. Through FHCE's website --
www.coverageforall.org -- information on available coverage, eligibility,
monthly
cost and public program applications for all 50 states are available. The move
to an Internet-based application process is an effort to help solve a
serious problem that experts believe factors into why such a high percentage
of the country's uninsured are not availing themselves of the current government
assistance programs.
The organization's "Coverage For All" campaign tools include the
following:
-- The free U.S. Uninsured Help Line (1-800-234-1317) provides live, one-
on-one assistance and is staffed 24/7 with friendly information specialists
and interpreters who speak multiple languages, provide basic screening for
both public and private health coverage, help callers identify their
potential options and connect them to health coverage representatives to
sign up for coverage.
-- The 5-Question Eligibility Quiz online tool at www.coverageforall.org
provides visitors with a customized profile of all public and private
health coverage options in the U.S. for which family members may qualify.
-- The Health Care Options Matrix (available for all 50 states) outlines
public and private health coverage options, including type of coverage,
eligibility, and monthly costs. The brochure is also useful for front-line
workers helping the uninsured find coverage, such as social workers or
health care professionals, and can be downloaded by going to
www.coverageforall.org.
Through a sustained partnership with Blue Cross of California
Foundation,FHCE has become a resource in making quality health care accessible
to all.
"The programs to help so many people are available today," said Lebherz. "We
need to do all we can to ensure that people who are eligible know how to
determine
if they are covered and that we make applying for coverage simple and fast."
The Foundation for Health Coverage Education (FHCE) is a non-profit
501(c)3public organization based in San Jose, California. For more information
visit their
website at www.coverageforall.org.
Media Contacts:
Marilyn Haese
Bobbi Rubinstein
Haese & Wood
(310) 556-9612
Email Contact
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