Health Check/NC Health Choice Campaign Development
The N.C. Healthy Start Foundation's Health Check/NC
Health Choice for Children (HC/NCHC) Campaign is a
statewide program designed to educate North Carolinians
on the benefits of and eligibility in the state's publicly
funded child health insurance programs.
Background
In the late 1990's, the federal government initiated
the national Child Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
which provides funding to states and which allows states
to design their own program and benefits package and
to enroll eligible children in health insurance programs.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau (2003) approximately
9.2 million children in the United States currently
are without health insurance coverage.
In October 1998, North Carolina initiated its CHIP
program, NC Health Choice for Children, which covers
children up to 200% of the federal poverty level who
are not eligible for Health Check (Medicaid). A single,
simplified application process supports both programs.
Since the beginning, North Carolina has consistently
ranked among the top states that have reduced the number
of children without health insurance. As of early 2005,
over 120,000 children were enrolled in NC Health Choice
for Children. It is the commitment of the state that
children enrolled in NC Health Choice who re-enroll
by their re-enrollment deadline will not lose coverage.
- Health Check (Medicaid) provides free health insurance
to children from birth through age 20 whose families
qualify for the program. The program is funded by
the federal government, the State of North Carolina
and local county governments.
- NC Health Choice for Children (North Carolina's
CHIP) provides free or low-cost health insurance
to children from birth through age 18 for those families
who qualify for the program and who do not qualify
for Medicaid. The program is funded by the federal
government and the State of North Carolina.
Goals
Audiences
- Parents, grandparents, legal guardians and other
family members caring for children.
- Community agencies and outreach staff
- Health care, social services and education professionals
who interact with North Carolina children and their
caregivers
Campaign Activities
- Bilingual (English and Spanish) public relations,
advertising and public education activities are employed
to educate the general public and "at risk" audiences
about Health Check and NC Health Choice for Children
- Educational materials are distributed free of
charge via the Foundation's Web site, mass-mailings,
through professional exhibiting and conference opportunities
and in response to catalog orders
- The Foundation also actively promotes the NC Family
Health Resource Line as a source of information and
referrals related to North Carolina's publicly funded
child health insurance programs
Click here to view available
materials and to obtain information on ordering.
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