Description Of Programs

Insure-A-Kid
Insure-a-kid is an on-going community-wide initiative to increase the number of children covered by health insurance in Travis and Williamson counties. The effort provides funds for a public education campaign and outreach network in cooperation with the TexCare Partnership. For more information, call insure-a-kid at 324-CHIP (2447) or visit their website at www.insureakid.org.

TexCare Partnership (umbrella organization for Medicaid and CHIP)
In spring of 2000, Texas began an exciting new initiative to reach out to the families of the 1.4 million uninsured children in Texas: the TexCare Partnership. TexCare Partnership's goal is to offer all families with uninsured children health insurance at a price that fits their budgets. Health coverage is offered through several programs: Medicaid, Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and private individual insurance. Parents can call a toll-free number, or mail in a simple two page application to TexCare Partnership. Based on family income and other factors (such as family resources, child's age), TexCare will guide the family to the program for which their children qualify. For more information, call the TexCare Partnership at 1-800-647-6558 or visit their website at www.texcarepartnership.com.

Medicaid
Medicaid, the oldest of the three programs, is available to children in families below the federal poverty line (about $17,000 a year for a family of four), and even to some just above the poverty line. Many Texas parents may not realize that Medicaid is no longer tied to welfare. In larger Texas cities, Medicaid is provided through private managed care insurance plans, and in most smaller cities and rural areas the state pays doctors and hospitals directly. Medicaid is a partnership between the state and federal governments.

Health Insurance Premium Payment (HIPP)
The Health Insurance Premium Payment (HIPP) Program is a reimbursement program that can help pay for health insurance premiums for eligible Medicaid recipients and their families. The Program reimburses qualified medicaid families for health insurance payments obtained through their employer.

Children's Health Insurance Program
CHIP, the newest program of the TexCare partnership, provides health insurance at a very low cost to uninsured Texas children above the Medicaid income limits, who previously had no options for affordable coverage. The upper income limit for CHIP eligibility is double the poverty income, or about $34,000 a year for a family of four. Like Medicaid, CHIP is provided through private managed care insurance plans in larger Texas cities, but in smaller cities and rural areas CHIP uses a health insurance plan that requires families to use specified health care providers. CHIP is also a state-federal partnership.

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