Insurance for Kids
Saturday’s story in The Gazette about the financial hardship a Falcon family
faces because they lack health insurance for their toddler magnifies the
importance of not neglecting this protection, even temporarily.
Two-year-old Emily Thogerson fell out of her second-floor window. Now
the Thogersons, who said they could not afford insurance, face thousands in
hospital bills.
The Thogersons were switching insurers and chose to go
without until the father’s new insurance began. In that case, and others where
insurance is simply unaffordable altogether, families can still obtain low-cost
coverage through a Colorado program for children under 19. Instead of paying
thousands, the Thogersons would have received free hospital care at an annual
enrollment fee of $35 for the program if they had qualified and enrolled.
Child Health Plan Plus was created by the state to help families that
earn too much to qualify for Medicaid but not enough to afford other insurance.
Families of four that earn under $3,442 a month qualify for the program.
Anyone who makes more than that doesn’t have an excuse for not protecting the
rambunctious life of a child.
The income requirements vary by number of
family members and income levels, and coverage is also available for prenatal
care.
Call 1-800-359-1991 for information or go online at
www.chpplus.org
CONTACT THE WRITER: dan.serra@gazette.com