Florida Healthy Kids

Press

Healthy Kids Press Contact,
Ashley Carr, Chief Marketing Officer,
(850) 701-6160, [email protected].

08/09/2000

August 9, 2000

Indian River County Joins Healthy Kids Program

TALLAHASSEE - The Florida Healthy Kids program has come together with local community and government leaders to provide additional children the opportunity to have healthcare coverage in the State of Florida. For the first time, Indian River County will hold open enrollment beginning today.

To qualify for this comprehensive health plan, the child must be between the ages of five and 18, be uninsured and ineligible for Medicaid or the Children's Medical Services Network.

Health care services are provided through Clarendon National Insurance Company. Most families will pay $15/month per family.

Healthy Kids provides comprehensive health insurance benefits for children including: doctors' office visits, inpatient hospital care, prescriptions, eyeglasses, immunizations and much more.

It is estimated that more than 500,000 of Florida's school age children lack health insurance. The Florida Healthy Kids Corporation, a nonprofit organization, was established by the Florida Legislature in 1990 to address this problem and has received state and national recognition for its innovative approach to bridging the health care gap for previously uninsured children. Healthy Kids, which insures over 150,000 children statewide, has been lauded as a national model, receiving the prestigious Innovations in American Government Award in 1996 from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

More than 700 children from Indian River County have already applied for the health insurance coverage offered through Healthy Kids. Families who have already sent in an application can expect a letter within the next couple weeks letting them know the status of their application, and if their children are eligible, when coverage will begin for their children.

Parents who want to apply for Healthy Kids coverage can call toll-free 1-888-FLA-KIDS (1-888-352-5437). Applications are being accepted now. Healthcare coverage will be issued on a first come-first served basis as enrollment is limited.

Healthy Kids Press Contact,
Ashley Carr, Chief Marketing Officer,
(850) 701-6160, [email protected].