San Bernardino, CA, April 12, 1999 -- While the New York Stock Exchange celebrates the Dow Jones climbing above the 10,000 mark, Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP) is literally "popping their corks" about enrolling the 2,090th child in the state-sponsored Healthy Families program.
"Of course, the corks are from non-alcoholic apple cider," IEHP’s CEO Richard Bruno is quick to explain. "We toast the caring parents who insure their children’s health through IEHP and Healthy Families. They realize that protecting a child’s health for less than the cost of a cheeseburger combo meal each month is truly an unbeatable return on investment," exclaimed Bruno.
Healthy Families provides low-cost, comprehensive health, dental and vision benefits to uninsured children ages 1 – 18 years old from low-income families. Coverage costs as little as $4 monthly per child enrolled with IEHP, which is the state-designated Community Provider Plan. (Seven other authorized health plans are required to charge 50-75 percent more for the same Healthy Families benefits.)
"We are definitely celebrating this milestone," Bruno reaffirmed. "It’s been a tough challenge. Many needless bureaucratic obstacles hindered families from signing up for this wonderful, low-cost healthcare program to protect their children."
Bruno was referring to California’s 28-page Healthy Families enrollment form so complex, it required state-certified assistors to be specially trained to help people complete the form correctly.
"Several states use a one-page form," said Bruno. "I applaud the determination of those parents who made it through the process. Someday, their children will thank them."
The Healthy Families Program was launched last July. Officials estimate that 400,000 children statewide and 90,000 children in the Inland Empire are eligible for Healthy Families coverage.
As of April 5, some 94,844 children statewide and 9,757 children in the Inland Empire were enrolled in Healthy Families.
"The state recently adopted a new, simpler four-page form. We hope this will make it easier for more families to enroll their uninsured children," said Bruno
"IEHP is not slowing down," pledged Bruno. "We’ve set a new goal to enroll 5,000 children. We’re going to do even more to get the word out about Healthy Families. We believe healthcare is the best investment a parent can make for their child."
For information about Healthy Families coverage and costs, call IEHP at 1-800-440-4347.
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