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"During this time of year,
we pause to think about how much our families and loved ones mean to
us," Blagojevich said. "We reflect on how much we value their health
and safety. But in Illinois, there are thousands of parents who work
hard to provide for the families but who still live with the fear
that their financial security could unravel if one of their children
falls sick or gets injured, because they cannot afford health
insurance. That's why we introduced the All Kids health insurance
program. Parents can preregister their children in All Kids today to
help expedite the application process, so that this time next year,
instead of worrying about how to afford their child's health care
coverage, they will be celebrating the holidays."
Preregistration for the All Kids program at St. Clair Square in
Fairview Heights will take place in the upper level, center court
area of the mall. For families who preregister at St. Clair Square,
the J. Bucks Restaurant located in the mall is offering "kids eat
free" coupons, with the purchase of an adult entrée. Preregistration
at University Mall in Carbondale will be in the main court, by Santa
Claus. Those who preregister at University Mall will receive a
variety of discounts at stores in the mall: 20 percent off their
entire ticket at Alongi's, $10 off their next $30 purchase at Bath
and Body Works, two-for-$30 fitted hats at Pro Image, and 30 percent
off their entire ticket at Rue 21. Preregistration at both shopping
centers will be available this weekend, Dec. 10-11, and next
weekend, Dec. 17-18, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Preregistration is also available by calling 1 (866) ALL-KIDS and
a form will be sent by mail. Starting Jan. 1, families will be able
to preregister for All Kids online at www.allkidscovered.com.
On Wednesday, the governor announced that six Westfield locations
in the Chicago area will have All Kids weekend preregistration
events from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Dec. 10, 11, 17 and 18: Westfield
North Bridge in Chicago, Westfield Fox Valley in Aurora, Westfield
Chicago Ridge in Chicago Ridge, Westfield Hawthorn in Vernon Hills,
Westfield Old Orchard in Skokie and Westfield Louis Joliet Mall in
Joliet.
"This preregistration period will help get the ball rolling for
All Kids and make the application process more efficient," said
Barry Maram, director of the Department of Healthcare and Family
Services. "It is our priority to ensure that every parent who wants
to enroll their children in All Kids does and that they start
receiving benefits July 1 if not sooner."
Once a preregistration form is received, the Illinois Department
of Healthcare and Family Services will process the information and
mail parents a letter to explain the next steps in the application
process. When it is time for the family to apply, the department
will mail each family an All Kids application that will be partially
filled out, based on the information provided during
preregistration. Children who are determined to be eligible for
KidCare can apply immediately to receive health coverage. Families
not currently eligible for KidCare may apply early in 2006 for
benefits that will begin July 1, 2006. Preregistration forms should
be filled out and mailed to All Kids, P.O. Box 19122, Springfield,
IL 62794-9805; or they will also be collected at preregistration
sites across the state over the next few months.
Of the 250,000 children in Illinois without health insurance,
more than half come from working and middle-class families who earn
too much to qualify for programs like KidCare but not enough to
afford private health insurance. The governor's program would make
comprehensive health insurance available to children, including
doctor's visits, hospital stays, prescription drugs, vision care,
dental care and medical devices like eyeglasses and asthma inhalers.
Parents will pay monthly premiums and co-payments for doctor's
visits and prescription drugs at affordable rates.
Over the past 2½ years, the Blagojevich administration has worked
to expand health coverage for low-income, working parents and their
children. Since January of 2003, 170,000
more children in Illinois received health insurance, and
Illinois is now ranked as the second-best state in the nation by the
Kaiser Family Foundation for providing health care to children who
need it Illinois is also now the top-ranked state in the nation for
providing health care to adults who need it.
Despite these gains, there are still uninsured children in every
corner of the state. In Cook County, the state's most populated
county, 12 percent of children, are uninsured. In Pulaski County, at
the southern tip of Illinois, nearly 15 percent of children lack
health coverage. In St. Clair County, 9.3 percent of children do not
have health insurance. In Sangamon County, home to Illinois'
capitol, 8.6 percent of kids are not insured. Even in suburban
DuPage County, one of the 25 wealthiest counties in the United
States, 7.2 percent of children have no health insurance.
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 Unlike private insurance that is too expensive for so many
families, the rates for All Kids coverage will be based on a
family's income. The state is able to offer All Kids insurance
coverage at much lower than market rates for middle-income families
by leveraging the significant negotiating and buying power it
already has through Medicaid.
For example, a family with two children that earns between
$40,000 and $59,999 a year will pay a $40 monthly premium per child
and a $10 co-pay per physician visit. A family with two children
that earns between $60,000 and $79,999 will pay a $70 monthly
premium per child and a $15 co-pay per physician visit. However,
there will be no co-pays for preventative care visits, such as
annual immunizations and regular checkups and screenings for vision,
hearing, appropriate development or preventative dental. These
premiums for middle-income families are significantly more
affordable than typical private insurance premiums of $100 to $200 a
month, or $2,400 per child annually.
The state will cover the difference between what parents
contribute in monthly premiums and the actual cost of providing
health care for each child -- expected to be $45 million in the
first year -- with savings generated by implementing a primary care
case management model for participants in the state's FamilyCare and
All Kids health care programs. Participants will choose a single
primary physician who will manage their care by ensuring they get
immunizations and other preventative health care services and avoid
unnecessary emergency room visits and hospitalizations. Patients
with chronic conditions like asthma or diabetes will have a single
care manager to make sure they are getting the treatments and
ongoing care they need to avoid acute care. Primary care physicians
will make referrals to specialists for additional care or tests as
needed.
By ensuring patients get adequate preventative care on the front
end, fewer people will need expensive specialized care or emergency
care for critical conditions. In children, preventative care is
especially important. For example, infants with stomach flu
(gastroenteritis) who receive appropriate primary care can avoid
being hospitalized for dehydration. Providing a timely exam and
appropriate antibiotic treatment for children with ear infections (otitis
media) can prevent chronic ear problems, loss of hearing and the
need for surgically placed tubes to relieve fluid buildup. Treating
children with bronchitis or minor lung infections in a primary care
setting can help to avoid more expensive hospitalization treatment
of pneumonia, including intravenous antibiotics and respiratory
treatments. And early identification and appropriate treatment of
children who have chronic illnesses, such as asthma, will result in
fewer expensive emergency room and inpatient care visits.
Twenty-nine other states -- including North Carolina, New York,
Texas, Pennsylvania and Louisiana -- have realized significant
savings by using this model for their Medicaid programs. Based on
independent analyses, the Department of Healthcare and Family
Services estimates the state will save $56 million in the first year
by implementing the primary care case management model in all state
health programs but those that serve seniors and the blind.
Research also provides strong economic reasons for insuring all
children. Delayed treatment can result in more complex, more
threatening and more expensive care later. While the uninsured pay
approximately 35 percent of their medical bills out of pocket, more
than 40 percent ends up being absorbed by those who do have health
insurance, in the form of higher premiums. According to a recent
Families USA report, the cost of paying for the uninsured will add
$1,059 to the average family's insurance premiums here in Illinois
in 2005.
In addition, investing in health care can have a positive effect
on local economies. Over the past five years, the health care
industry has created nearly 40,000 new jobs in Illinois. Health care
is the second-fastest growing industry in the state and one of the
fastest in the nation. Families USA found that for every $1 million
invested in health care for people who need coverage, an additional
$2.4 million is generated in new business activity and $840,000 in
new wages.
More information about All Kids is available online at
www.allkidscovered.com.
[News release from the governor's
office] |
