FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 05-26-2010
Health Coverage for More Than 17,000 Hispanic Children Living in L.A. County is in Jeopardy
Parents Must Return Form by June 21 to Keep Children Enrolled
WHAT: Parents of Healthy Kids members ages 6 – 18 must complete and return an
important response form by June 21, 2010, so their kids don’t lose
comprehensive health coverage.
In order to continue offering health coverage at low-cost to existing Healthy Kids
members ages 6 – 18, parents will contribute with a modest monthly premium
of $15 per child, effective July 1, 2010.
A letter and a premium increase response form were sent to all Healthy Kids
6 - 18 members. Parents must fill out and sign the premium increase response
form and return it to L.A. Care Health Plan in order to keep their children enrolled.
WHO: Parents of more than 21,000 Healthy Kids members ages 6 – 18,
more than 17,000 of which are Hispanic
WHEN: Response forms must be completed and postmarked by Monday June 21, 2010
WHERE: Premium increase response forms should be sent to:
P.O. Box 515388
Los Angeles, CA 90051-9788
WHY: The CHI Coalition believes that all children should have health coverage, and for
seven years has been raising money through grants and public/private
partnerships to keep the privately funded Healthy Kids program going.
With the shaky economy, the fundraising has become challenging. A group
of health plan members approached L.A. Care Health Plan last fall to suggest that
a premium increase be considered in order to extend the program. Focus groups
and a survey of Healthy Kids parents were then conducted; findings showed that
84% of the parents were willing to financially contribute more to help the program
continue. As a result, families will contribute with a $15 premium per child,
per month, regardless of income, with a cap of $45 per month for three or more
children.
PHOTO & VIDEO OPPORTUNITIES:
Healthy Kids spokesperson and family available for interviews
###
Media Contact:
Marissa Jimenez
213.694.1250 ext. 4389
Cell: 323.496.2424
mjimenez@lacare.org
http://twitter.com/lacarehealth