In an unprecedented partnership, officials of the California Teachers Association (CTA) and the California Association of Health Plans (CAHP) announced today that the organizations are teaming up to bring low-cost health insurance options to thousands of the state's needy children.
The new, collaborative "Teachers and Health Plans for Healthy Kids" outreach effort - developed by the two associations and supported by a $547,000 grant from The California Endowment, a private, statewide health foundation - will include two major components.
Health plans will educate public school teachers about public health insurance programs available to low-income children and their families and work with teachers in devising outreach strategies. Teachers will determine means by which they will reach out to students and families in efforts to increase enrollment in the programs.
There are approximately 1 million uninsured children in California - nearly 300,000 in Los Angeles County alone - who are eligible for, but not enrolled in, either the state's low-cost Healthy Families program or the no-cost Medi-Cal for Families program.
"Teachers understand there is a clear relationship between a lack of health care and school performance," said Wayne Johnson, president of the 335,000-member CTA. "We can't teach to an empty desk, but we also know every kid deserves a healthy chance to learn. Parents trust teachers. This new partnership now means families will be hearing more about these vital insurance programs directly from classroom teachers statewide."
"California Health plans are committed to the goal of enrolling every eligible child in the Healthy Families and Medi-Cal programs," said Walter Zelman, president of the California Association of Health Plans. "This unique alliance between health plans and CTA is a breakthrough in that effort."
The Healthy Families Program is an insurance program that contracts with a variety of health plans in the state so children under the age of 19 can receive complete medical, dental and vision care for $4 to $9 a month (to a maximum of $27 for all children in a family). There is no co-payment for preventative services such as immunizations. There is a $5 co-pay for non-preventative services. A family of four can earn $44,136 and be eligible. The Medi-Cal program covers family members including parents with incomes at or below the federal poverty level or $18,100 per year.
Robert K. Ross, M.D., president and CEO of The Endowment, said his organization is committed to this issue and welcomes innovative and expanded outreach strategies to reach the hundreds of thousands of uninsured children throughout the state who are eligible for Healthy Families and Medi-Cal.
"It is a travesty that thousands of eligible children lack health coverage because barriers prevent them from enrolling into public health insurance programs," said Dr. Ross. "This project is an exciting opportunity for teachers and health plans to become partners in this effort because a healthy child is one that's ready to learn."
Both associations are putting their considerable resources to work on this health care crisis. The CAHP represents 32 health plans insuring 21 million Californians. CTA has 1,100 chapters across the state and is affiliated with the 2.7 million-member National Education Association.
Among their other outreach efforts, CTA members will be telling parents about two easy methods for learning more about Healthy Families coverage: calling toll-free 1-888-747-1222, or visiting www.healthyfamilies.ca.gov.
CTA President Johnson and CAHP's Zelman said the outreach project will be a multi-year effort with the intent of it becoming part of the everyday fabric of school life.
They noted that experts are learning what teachers have understood for a long time - that success in school is linked to regular attendance and access to health care.
The Healthy Families program joined forces with Medi-Cal for Children in 1998 to provide low-cost and no-cost comprehensive health care, dental and vision coverages to the state's most vulnerable population - low-income, uninsured children.