The income eligibility guidelines for a program that provides subsidized health insurance for North Dakota children got a bit more generous today.
Families with incomes of 160 percent of the federal poverty level - that's $35,280 for a family of four - now qualify for North Dakota's Healthy Steps Children's Health Insurance program.
"It's important for children to have access to health services, not only if they break their arm, but also for immunizations and preventative health care," Maggie Anderson, medical services director for the North Dakota Department of Human Services, said Tuesday.
Officials estimate that the change in income limits means an additional 439 children will qualify for the program, which covered 3,262 North Dakotans aged 18 and younger in April, the most recent figures available.
The state Medicaid program covered another 35,604 residents age 21 and younger.
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An estimated 14,310 children in North Dakota were uninsured in 2007, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation, which tracks health status in all states.
Gov. John Hoeven, in his budget, had proposed increasing the income limits for the Healthy Steps program from 150 percent of the federal poverty level to 200 percent. Lawmakers approved an increase to
160 percent of net income.
North Dakota allows families to subtract their child care costs and payroll taxes, such as Social Security, Medicare and income taxes, as well as any child support paid by the household in determining whether children qualify.
Dakota Medical Foundation, based in Fargo, has a $650,000 contract with the state to promote the Healthy Steps program over the next two years.
The promotional campaign, which will include television and radio spots, will be statewide. Messages will address the general population as well as spots that will target the American Indian community, Anderson said.
Outreach efforts will include contacts in schools, county offices, health clinics and other locations to raise awareness of the Healthy Steps program and its expanded eligibility, she said.
"We just want people to know the poverty level's increasing," Anderson said.
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Readers can reach Forum reporter Patrick Springer at (701) 241-5522
