Making plans for a healthy connection

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Health fair will connect families to affordable health care options

RAMONA MCCALLISTER/CENTRAL OREGONIAN

Cuyla Markovich, Physician’s Assistant Student, checks vitals on patient Brittney Taylor. Dr. Michael Knower, the attending physician, is also a participating health care provider for the Healthy Kids Connect Plan.

Kevin Gaboury

There is good news to parents that are paying high medical health insurance premiums for their children.

Healthy Kids Connect is a low to no-cost major medical health insurance for families whose income is between 200-300 percent of the Federal Poverty Level. This includes family incomes of up to $44,000 per year for a single parent with one child and $66,000 per year for a single parent raising three children. The program covers children between the ages of zero to 18 years of age. The state health program also offers premium reimbursements of up to 90 percent for those that qualify in the above income bracket, and are already paying into an employer's health care plan.

Many Central Oregon families are unaware that they qualify for this program, and many have yet to enroll. Six non-profit leaders are partnering to educate and enroll families for this opportunity. Mosaic Medical, Partnership to End Poverty, Neighorimpact, HealthMatters of Central Oregon, Healthy Beginnings, and MountainStar Relief Nursery are all partners to spread awareness of the program.

Because of the need for community awareness, there will be a Healthy Kids Connect Enrollment Event and Health Fair in May at Deschutes County Expo Center. The Health Fair will provide enrollment services on-site, as well as featuring select primary care, dental, vision and mental health providers from Bend, Redmond, Sisters, Sunriver, Prineville, and Madras. Help will be available to assist families with the information needed to choose a health care provider and to establish care for newly insured children.

If a family falls into the above income bracket, and already have insurance for their children, they still may be able to qualify for the reimbursement portion of the program. Any premium that is paid on an existing health plan that is above and beyond the employer's contribution can qualify for up to a 90 percent reimbursement. For example, if a parent of one child had an income of $44,000 or less, and was paying an additional amount for their child's insurance from their employer, they could get reimbursed up to 90 percent of that premium coming out of their pocket.

For families that have had to choose between buying groceries and paying for their child's health care, Healthy Kids Connect became available Jan. 1, 2010. Children that qualify cannot be excluded due to pre-existing conditions.

"The non-profits in Central Oregon are ecstatic about this opportunity afforded to local families. We have never seen a health plan like this before in Oregon that reaches the group of families in these income brackets. We really hope that families will take advantage of this opportunity," said Mosaic Medical Work and Resource Development staff member Kristy Krugh.

For more information, visit the web at wwww.myhb.org.

Healthy Kids Connect Enrollment Event and Health Fair

May 8, 9-5 p.m.

Deschutes County Expo Center, South Sister Building