Family Resource Centers help families access health coverage through CHP+ and Medicaid programs
I am Linnea Bjorkman and I work at Focus Points Family Resource Center in Denver. Many families I work with have benefited from the Medicaid and CHP+ eligibility expansions made possible through the Colorado Health Care Affordability Act. One family from North Denver I work with is composed of two working parents and three children, ages 8, 4 and 1. The father of this family is employed by a sign production company. His company used to provide health insurance for his family, however, the company discontinued dependent benefits, so the wife and children needed insurance. Because of the Medicaid and CHP+ eligibility expansions, they were eligible and have now received coverage. What’s more, the family used to be covered by Kaiser through the husband’s company and the children are able to continue using Kaiser as their HMO under CHP+, ensuring continuity of care. Having coverage through CHP+ means this family can continue using their regular prescriptions and getting routine preventive and primary care. It has made a world of difference for them.
My name is Amanda Perez and I work for the Delta Family Literacy and Resource Program in Western Colorado. We help kids weekly through our free school-based health clinics. Often uninsured families assume that they don’t qualify for Medicaid or tell us that they have tried before and been denied because of eligibility. Since the Colorado Health Care Affordability Act was passed and eligibility was expanded for Medicaid and CHP+ we’ve been able to help dozens of families apply for Medicaid or CHP+. We know that kids who have health insurance are more likely to get routine and preventive health care services that help to avoid expensive health conditions. Thanks to the Health Care Affordability Act many kids in Southwest Colorado have health coverage and their families have peace of mind.
My name is Mili Myskiw and I work for the La Llave Family Resource Center in Alamosa. Because health insurance has become so expensive, I work with families every day that rely on public programs. One of my clients has a child with a serious heart condition. Thanks to the CHP+ expansion financed by the Health Care Affordability Act, we were able to help her enroll her child in CHP+ and her child has been able to get great medical care, including heart surgery. This family likely would have had to sell their house to pay for medical bills if it weren’t for CHP+ coverage made possible by the Health Care Affordability Act has provided life-saving medical care and financial stability for this family. Another one of the families I work with has four children. They applied for Medicaid in 2008 but were denied. They went into debt paying medical bills after one of their children had a serious allergic reaction to a plant. Now that eligibility has been expanded for CHP+, I believe they will qualify for coverage and I am working with them to get their kids enrolled.
