Back to school enrollment drive kicks off

MAT-SU -- The fourth annual Back To School campaign to encourage parents to sign their children up for free health insurance began last week. Backed by the Alaska's Covering Kids initiative, the campaign is designed to educate the Alaska community about Denali KidCare, Alaska's no-cost health insurance for children and pregnant mothers.

"Basically, it's a kick-off to remind parents [about Denali KidCare]," said Alaska's Covering Kids statewide outreach coordinator Donna Elliot. "This is a great time of year to get insurance, before school starts and before the flu season."

In years past, the campaign has been run by the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services. This year, the state has handed over the torch to the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, the lead agency for the Alaska coalition that supports the campaign. Denali KidCare enrollment is based on income, and both Native and non-Native Alaskan families are encouraged to apply. Alaska's Back to School campaign is part of a national effort initiated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services with support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The campaign kicked off with a press conference at the Alaska Native Medical Center last week, and will continue through August. Along with handing out flyers, pencils and banners, Elliot said the campaign will also focus on education for health care professionals.

"There are a lot of community contacts aware of the program and a lot of facilities already have information," Elliot said. "One of the things we are doing is training advocates to be better versed so they can encourage parents [to get their children health insurance]."

Elliot also said that if parents are planning to enroll their children in Denali KidCare, they should do so before Sept. 1.

"Right now, a family of four qualifies at $46,000, which is 200 percent of the federal poverty level," Elliot said. "The income guidelines will be reduced to 175 percent [after the first] and the same family will qualify at $40,250 or less a year."

Elliot said that if a family with an income higher than 175 percent of the federal poverty level waits until after Sept. 1, their children will no longer qualify for Denali KidCare. Once qualified, children will receive free health insurance for six months, regardless of income during that time.

For more information about the Back to School campaign call 1-877-KIDS-NOW.