| Article |
April 2006
The Daily Review
$10 to insure low-income kids
Slots available for only 1,150 children in Alameda County
FROM STAFF REPORTS
ALAMEDA — Such a deal!
It's first come, first served, with relatively few slots, for low-income parents seeking children's health care insurance at $10 a month per child.
Hayward's Tiburcio Vasquez Health Center, 22331 Mission Blvd., is one of seven locations to sign up for the Alameda Alliance for Health program.
Coverage is available to 1,150 children from birth through age 18.
Alameda County and the state have provided a $168,000 subsidy to the privately funded alliance's Healthy Kids program.
Enrollments throughout the county will be accepted until the 1,150 available slots have been filled, said Ingrid Lamirault, the alliance's chief executive officer.
To be eligible, children must live in the county, meet federal poverty level standards ($60,000 for a family of four), and be ineligible for such public programs as Medi-Cal and Healthy Families.
Applicants need to bring proof of income, a bill showing proof of address, and a money order or check covering the first monthly premium of $10 per child.
Healthy Kids is open to all children, regardless of immigration status.
In 2003, a state survey estimated that 21,000 Alameda County children ages 18 and younger lacked medical insurance.
Other enrollment locations are in Alameda, Berkeley, Fremont, Oakland and Pleasanton.
For more information on the Healthy Kids program, or other Alliance health programs, call (510) 747-4567. For Tiburcio Vasquez Health Center information, call (510) 471-5880, ext. 3321.
http://www.insidebayarea.com/dailyreview/localnews/ci_3667690