Governor Urges Health Insurance for Children by 2010

Posted: 9:43 PM Nov 18, 2008
Last Updated: 9:43 PM Nov 18, 2008
Reporter: Dara Rees
Email Address: dara.rees@wymtnews.com


More than 67,000 children in Kentucky do not have health insurance, but are eligible for coverage with KCHIP, Kentucky's free or low cost health insurance program. Today, governor steve beshear announced plans to get more Kentuckians enrolled.

Streaming live across the state, Governor Steve Beshear spoke about his hopes to improve the quality of life for every Kentuckian.

"Many of our children in this state lack health insurance, and thus they often don't get the healthcare they need. This is unacceptable," says Governor Beshear.

"We have a lot of children that are missing out on a lot of life because of not having the insurance to see the doctors and get the proper care they need to have," says Gaylan Good, executive director for United Way of South East Kentucky.

KCHIP is partnering with United Way and other community groups to find the children that are eligible and help people focus more on their families.

"We can help them focus on getting employed, getting self sufficient, but not having to look for the job that has all the benefits," says Tracy Counts with the Ready to Work Program with Hazard Community and Technical College.

Counts says she knows life without insurance can be stressful. "You're sitting there praying every night, please do not let anything happen, because you know you're going to be slapped with a big bill of something did happen."

The Governor's goal is to get 35,000 Kentucky children enrolled in KCHIP by 2010.

"That's a pretty ambitious goal, but when we get all of our partners together, it's going to happen," says Good.

KCHIP has also eliminated the barrier of face to face interviews, allowing people to apply entirely online.