Opinions

DATE: January 3, 2009

Letters to the Observer
Raleigh News & Observer
[email protected]

Insure those Kids

In response to Jonathan B. Cox's Dec. 11 story "Health-care issues: equality, recession," it is quite evident that most emergency rooms today are overcrowded and understaffed. However, contrary to what was stated in the article, this is not a good thing. The underlying truth behind crowded waiting rooms is not trust but lack of health insurance for a medical home. According to the 2007 Americas Health Rankings Report, North Carolina's uninsured population has increased by 17 percent. Sadly, children account for 13 percent of that increase mostly due to the loss of employer-sponsored coverage. Since 1998, the N.C. Healthy Start Foundation and the N.C. Division of Public Health have raised awareness about the Health Check (Medicaid) and N.C. Health Choice insurance programs for children. Both programs offer a comprehensive package of benefits, including dental, vision and hearing care to those under 21 years old. With health insurance, parents can establish a medical home such as a doctor's office, community clinic or local health department and avoid unnecessary and costly visits to the ER.

For information on free or low-cost children's health insurance or a medical home, call the N.C. Family Health Resource Line at 1-800-367-2229 or visit www.NCHealthyStart.org.

Ania Boer

Health Check/ N.C. Health Choice Outreach Campaign Coordinator, N.C. Healthy Start Foundation
Raleigh

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