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San Jose
Mercury News KID STUFF It was encouraging news that more than 10,000 youngsters have been enrolled in Santa Clara County's Healthy Kids program. After all, the first-in-the-nation program provides comprehensive medical, dental and vision care for kids from low- and middle-income families who don't qualify for other public programs. But the news is frustrating, too. Sure, 10,000 previously uninsured kids now have health coverage. But it's estimated there are 8,000 more youngsters in the county who could qualify, and after more than a year has passed they're still not signed up. What's the problem? "The families we are trying to reach are traditionally those who in fact are the most difficult to reach,'' explains program spokeswoman Janie Tyre. "Some have concerns relating to immigration status. Some believe that because they work they do not qualify.'' And still others fear wading through red tape. "The truth is that we have application assistors who will personally help applicants in their own language,'' Tyre says. "The Healthy Kids application is two pages, and the only documentation required consists of a pay stub and evidence of Santa Clara County residency'' (a phone bill or something similar). It would be a shame if people who came here to better their children's lives don't take advantage of this program to better their children's lives. No excuses. FURTHERMORE: Healthy Kids got its start with initial funding
from
Proposition 10 cigarette taxes and a donation from the Santa
Clara
Family Health Foundation. But more help is needed to pay the
$1,000-per-kid annual premiums if somehow all the eligible kids
do
get signed up. That's why a simple fundraising effort is under
way. ------------------------------------------------------------------------
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