April 9, 1999
Sacramento — Delivering on a promise to make it easier for eligible families to enroll their children into the Healthy Families Program and Medi-Cal for Children this spring, Governor Gray Davis along with California Health and Human Services Agency Secretary Grantland Johnson and Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board Executive Director Sandra Shewry, today released a revised application that is easier to use and will assist greatly in increasing enrollments into both programs.
The shortened application, reduced to four pages, became available this week. Also, application materials are being shipped to county welfare offices and will be distributed at regional training sessions that are being conducted this week.
"During the past three months, the state focus tested a draft application that was then submitted to community groups, health organizations, advocacy groups, county public social services, state advisory committees, and other interested parties for further review," said Johnson. "Today, we have the pleasure of unveiling a short form that will help more families apply for Healthy Families coverage."
The new joint application will be used by families to enroll their children into either Healthy families or Medi-Cal for Children. The shortened form eliminates all mathematical calculations, shifts determination of families' income eligibility for both programs to the program's administrators, requires less information about citizenship or immigration status, and asks that families now submit only one paycheck stub to verify income. Also, a streamlined application process establishes a single point of entry of receipt for all applications. In addition, families can use a one-step mail-in eligibility process, and no follow-up will be required if the necessary documentation and premium payment is sent with the application. Finally, the new application will strengthen the state's existing partnership with community-based programs and application assistants, who help in filling out the application at no cost to the families.
"This simplified application removes many of the barriers that have prevented some families from applying for coverage," said Shewry.
Since the program began providing health coverage to children on July 1, 1998, approximately 90,000 children have been enrolled in Healthy Families and another 40,000 in Medi-Cal for Children. That's over 130,000 children currently receiving vital health care services that were uninsured just eight months ago. Other accomplishments to date include the establishment of 2,700 Healthy Families enrollment entities and the training of more than 12,000 certified application assistants. In addition, more than 270,000 phone calls have been placed to the program's toll-free information and referral line (1-888-747-1222), demonstrating the State's success in reaching eligible families with education and outreach efforts.
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