BY B.G. GREGG
The Cincinnati Enquirer
A state task force has recommended that Ohio expand its medical insurance program for children, a move that could make 40,000 more kids eligible for publicly funded insurance.
The Child Health Insurance Program (CHIP) already insures children whose families earn up to 150 percent of the federally defined poverty level. The poverty level is now $13,330 for a single parent with two children. The task force's recommendation is to expand coverage to children whose families earn up to twice the poverty level.
The recommendation is far from reality, but those who work with the uninsured were happy to hear about it.
"We were working for two things, that they expand the income limit and they look at the parents of the children to get them insured -- we got one out of two," said Sister Barbara Busch of Working in Neighborhoods, a Cincinnati-area consumer group that concentrates on health issues.
William Ryan, director of the Ohio Department of Health, said Gov. George Voinovich now wants the task force to create a legislative proposal that probably won't be considered until next spring. CHIP uses a combination of state and federal funds to buy insurance for children. Mr. Ryan said the federal government provides 70 percent of the money for the program.
"Folks are still trying to price it," he said, of the cost of expanding the program to provide for 40,000 more children. "My guess is you're probably talking about $45 million."
Stephen Wilhide, president and chief executive officer of the Southern Ohio Health Services Network, a chain of clinics in Clermont, Adams, Brown, Fayette and Highland counties, said his company lost a record $1 million last year, mostly from treating the uninsured.
"In the last three years, we've seen a 35 percent increase overall in uninsured," he said. "Many of them are adults who have left public assistance rolls and are now uninsured. They do bring kids with them."
The recommendation enjoys support from both the Democratic and Republican candidates for governor.
Last month, Democrat Lee Fisher said expanding the program would save Ohio money in the long run by preventing health problems. Wednesday, Republican contender Bob Taft said that, if elected, implementing the task force's recommendations would be among his top priorities.
Whether the program is expanded, the state, advocates and providers are working to get more people into CHIP. Many who are eligible do not know about the program, and others do not know how to fill out the paperwork or choose not to because of the red tape or stigma. Those interested should call their county human services department.
Enquirer reporter Sandy Theis contributed to this story.
