TCH Health Plan to be HMO for Kids in 10 Counties

Texas Children's Health Plan, a licensed HMO founded and owned by Texas Children's Hospital in 1995, will partner with Texas Healthy Kids Corporation to offer affordable health insurance for children 2-17 in Harris and surrounding counties. The enrollment period began Sept. 15 and will run through Nov. 15.

Texas Health Kids Corporation (THKC) is a non-profit corporation established by the 75th Texas Legislature to administer a program which families can use to purchase affordable health insurance for children. Contributions to help fund the program are being sought from community businesses and non-profit groups.

"There are 1.3 million uninsured children in Texas, 239,000 in Houston," said Mark Wallace, director and CEO of Texas Children's Hospital at a Sept. 21 press conference where the partnership was outlined. "Typically, these children receive health care on an episodic and fragmented basis." Data indicate that children without insurance are five times more likely to use emergency centers as primary sites for health care.

"Houston has one of the highest rates of uninsured kids," said Dr. Ken Wells, board member of THKC. "Unfortunately, children are the most likely to go without coverage, so we are excited about making affordable insurance a reality for many families."

Services and benefits which are covered under the plan include doctor's office visits, well-child visits, eyeglasses, x-rays, immunizations, prescription drugs, lab tests, home health services, basic mental health care and any hospitalizations.

The counties being served by Texas Children's Health Plan (TCHP) are Harris, Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Colorado, Fort Bend, Liberty, Matagorda, Montgomery, Waller and Wharton. THCP currently has 143 primary care pediatricians in this service area.

Recent studies have indicated that Texas children who lack insurance coverage are 25 percent more likely to miss school; parents of uninsured children in Texas had 550,000 more missed days of work than parents of insured children.

In Harris County, the cost per child for the THKC/TCHP insurance will be $68.21 per month. Preventive dental coverage will also be available in Harris, Fort Bend, Brazoria, Montgomery and Waller counties for an additional $3.75 per month.

For information about enrollment in the program, call 1-877-WELL-KID (toll free) or visit the web site at txhealthykids.com.

- Roger Widmeyer

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©2006 Texas Medical Center

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