"17,000 to go"

New Hampshire is one of the leading states in the nation in providing health insurance coverage for children, thanks to the Healthy Kids Program.  But there are still 17,000 children in New Hampshire without health insurance!

We need your help to not only preserve this program, but also to take steps to provide health insurance coverage for all New Hampshire's children.

Contact us for your "17,000 to go" Action Pack!  Please provide us with the contact information requested, and we'll send you a complete "Action Pack" with buttons, stickers, and other information for you and your community organization to take action.  Please write in the message box:  "17,000 to go Action Pack."  Or just call us at 603-229-3260.

Write a letter.  Find information to help you write a Letter to the Editor of your local newspaper.

Invite us to your next meeting.  Let us know if your group or community organization would be interested in learning more about the importance of health insurance coverage for children.  Our Speakers Bureau can provide your group or organization with an enlightening and dynamic program!

Learn more about children's health insurance and understand how important, cost-effective, and practical insuring our kids is today, and for the future. 

     Become better informed about the history of the Healthy Kids Program in New Hampshire, and the role that partners have played in keeping over 70,000 New Hampshire kids healthy.

Write a letter

When writing a letter to your local newspaper, here are some important points to remember:

• Keep the tone of your letter positive and "up beat."
• Say something about the great job we are doing insuring our kids, and the importance of maintaining the Healthy Kids Program in New Hampshire.  Consider including the fact that there are still a significant number of New Hampshire children without health insurance, and that insuring all New Hampshire children ("17,000 to go") is an achievable goal in our state!
• Use words like "sound"," "practical," "logical," "cost-effective," and "responsible" in your message.
• Keep your letter to 400 words or less.
• Talking points.  Use the information below to help you construct your message.  If you wish to learn more about the history of funding health insurance for children in New Hampshire, or the partners who make the program possible.  We are pleased to provide this information for your review.

Learn more...

Insurance coverage for children is affordable

• After provider in-kind contributions, private grants, and family premiums, the cost of the Healthy Kids Program is split between the State and Federal government.  The State pays only 35% of the cost while the Federal Government pays 65%.

• The HNHfoundation (which is a private foundation) pays approximately $250,000 of the state's 35% share, each year, to maintain the current program and leverage essential federal funding.  In many other states, the program has been totally funded through public monies.

• Hospital and health care providers accept lower reimbursement for services to make it more affordable for families and financial partners.

Insurance coverage for children is effective

• Children enrolled in the Healthy Kids Program are 7 times more likely to receive preventative care in the past 12 months than children not enrolled in the program.

• Children enrolled in the Healthy Kids Program are 4.5 times more likely to have received needed care in the past 12 months than children not enrolled in the program.

• Less than half of uninsured families are confident they can get care, compared to 95% of families with children enrolled in the Healthy Kids Program.

Insurance coverage for children is an investment in the future

• Preventive care leads to improved school attendance and performance.

• When kids are healthy, parents miss less work.

• Preventative care is a predictor of positive health outcomes.

Insurance coverage for children is cost effective

• The cost of one preventable night in the hospital is equal to the cost of every preventive care visit a child needs form birth to age 18.

• Lack of coverage results in delaying care, making future treatment more extensive and expensive.

• Every 21 cents in state funds leverages 1 dollar of Healthy Kids Program coverage.

History

New Hampshire's commitment to children's health

New Hampshire has taken a practical, step-by-step approach to providing health insurance for our children.  The timeline below reflects this approach. 

    To learn more about the role that the HNHfoundation has played in the Healthy Kids Program, see our story.

1993

The New Hampshire Legislature created New Hampshire Healthy Kids Corporation (NHHK) as a nonprofit organization to provide access to affordable health insurance to uninsured children.

1994

New Hampshire expanded eligibility in the State Medicaid Program for infants and pregnant women to its current (2004) level.

1995

NHHK began covering previously uninsured children in partnership with BlueCross/BlueShield of New Hampshire and the state's community hospitals.

1997

Congress approved the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), enabling states to increase health care options to children above the Medicaid eligibility level.  In order to participate, states are required to provide 35% of the cost of the program while the federal government provides 65% of the costs.

1999

The HNHfoundation provided the required 35% in state matching funds to start SCHIP in New Hampshire.  The Foundation continued to provide the entire required state match through 2001.

2001

The New Hampshire Legislature voted to approve the funding for the required state match beginning in July 2001.

2002

The HNHfoundation continues to financially support a portion of the state match for eligible children living in moderate-income families.

Partners

Healthy Kids Program

The New Hampshire Healthy Kids Program is successful because of the commitment from private-public partners including the Federal Government, the NH Legislature, the NH Department of Health and Human Services, the NH Healthy Kids Corporation, the HNHfoundation, healthcare providers, insurers, school and community agencies.

     It costs approximately $1,500 per year to insure a child through the State Children's Health Insurance Program.

Here's what we've accomplished:

• The 1993 rate of uninsured children in the nation was 13.7%.  The rate in New Hampshire was 10.7%

• The 2002-2003 average rate of uninsured children in the nation was 11.6%.  The rate in New Hampshire was 5.2%.

• In 2003, New Hampshire had the third lowest rate of uninsured kids in the nation.

• Based on 2003 data from the U.S. Census Bureau, there remain 17,000 children in New Hampshire living without health insurance.  We have only "17,000 to go!"

NH Healthy Kids Corporation Programs

Below are brief descriptions of the health insurance programs available through the Healthy Kids Program.

For more information about eligibility, enrollment, and benefits, go to www.nhhealthykids.com

Program Descriptions

Healthy Kids Gold (formerly called Medicaid) provides coverage at no cost to children in families at the lowest income levels.  Children access services through the Medicaid fee-for-service program and healthcare providers who contract with the state of New Hampshire.

Healthy Kids Silver offers low-cost health insurance at $25 or $45 per child per month.  Co-payments of $5 or $10 apply to certain services.  Total cost sharing cannot exceed 5% of total family income.  Coverage is provided through Anthem BlueCross/Blue Shield and Northeast Delta Dental.

Healthy Kids Buy-In allows families with higher incomes to buy-in to the Silver Program.  Premiums at $115 per child per month are not subsidized by government funds but indirectly supported by provider discounts and the in-kind donation of administrative insurance fees.

Eligibility

Eligibility is based on residency, citizenship, age and family income.  Coverage is available to eligible children from birth through age 18.  To be eligible for Healthy Kdis Silver, a child must be uninsured for six months unless good cause for the loss of insurance applies.  Income guidelines are listed below.

Benefits (vary by program)

Comprehensive health and dental coverage include:

• Check-ups
• Immunizations
• Doctor visits and specialists visits
• X-ray and laboratory services
• Physical, occupational & speech therapy
• Early intervention services
• Hospital services
• Prescription drugs
• Emergency room
• Outpatient services
• Eyeglasses
• Hearing aids
• Mental health visits
• Dental check-ups
• Dental x-rays
• Cleanings
• Fluoride treatment
• Fillings

Speakers Bureau

Invite us to speak at your next meeting.

Help us spread the word about the importance of children's health insurance coverage in New Hampshire.

The Speakers Bureau exists to provide you and your community organization or group with information about how health insurance coverage makes a difference in the lives of New Hampshire's children.

Speakers will tailor their presentation to meet your needs.  The Speakers Bureau is coordinated by the Healthy Kids Corporation, with support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Covering Kids and Families Initiative.

Contact:  Mr. Chris Rule at 603-228-2925 or e-mail: crule@nhhealthykids.org