February 24, 1999
Web posted at: 9:55 a.m. EST (1455 GMT)

WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, February 24) -- The Clinton Administration is enlisting new allies in a campaign to get more than five million poor children and teenagers health insurance by enrolling them in Medicaid.

To get out the word on the program, household products and a toll-free phone number will be used to encourage parents to seek federal health benefits for their kids.

"Today we're here to announce an unprecedented commitment from media to business, to health care industry, to grass roots organizations, all over our nation, to inform families of these new health insurance options," Clinton said at a White House event Tuesday.

The toll-free number -- 1-877-KIDS-NOW or 1-877-543-7669 -- has been developed by the National Governors' Association (NGA) and Bell Atlantic to provide state by state information.

"Ultimately of course, parents must take responsibility for their children's health," Clinton said Tuesday."Our message must be: What you don't know about your children's health insurance options can hurt them. It's up to you to find out if your child is eligible for this health insurance."

Congress created the children's health insurance program almost two years ago to extend coverage to millions of children who are eligible for Medicaid but not enrolled and to enlist teens in a new health care program.

But the number of uninsured children began to rise when welfare reform legislation took effect. Many parents are unaware their children are sometimes still eligible for Medicaid coverage after the parents lose cash assistance.

To increase awareness, the phone number will be printed on K-Mart shopping bags, diaper boxes, child safety seats and toothbrushes. Numerous radio and television networks have promised to air public service announcement as well.

And health centers will put up thousands of posters and a new Web site (insurekidsnow.gov) carries the latest information on how to sign up.

The trend of uninsured children worries health care professionals. Children without health insurance are more likely to be sick as babies, not be immunized as preschoolers and go without medical treatment when injured.

Federal officials estimate that 10.7 million children have no health care coverage. Half are eligible for free or low cost coverage under these programs.

With aggressive outreach, state officials hope to enroll more than 2.5 million children in the next 18 months.

Since the failure of the Clinton national health care plan in 1994, the president has been forced to take an incremental approach. This is one program that federal officials say can produce results.

CNN's Chris Black contributed to this report.

Wednesday, February 24, 1999

• Senate panel spotlights independent counsel law
• Budget Office: Focus on economy to save Social Security
• Federal campaign enlists seniors as Medicare 'fraud busters'
• Hillary Clinton meets with Schumer, Lowey on possible Senate bid
• Begala leaving White House for teaching job
• Buchanan to announce presidential candidacy in New Hampshire
• Clinton kicks off campaign to insure children under Medicaid
• Fed chief wary on economy
• Census Bureau to revive sampling
• Ken Bode ready to leave PBS over changes to `Washington Week'
• GOP criticizes Clinton defense plan
• Clinton legal fund raised $4.5M
• Speaker: GOP may exceed spending limit
• Ex-President Ford touts Gov. Bush
• Hubbell trial will haunt first lady
• Vice president's daughter expecting a baby
• Gore courts Latino leaders
• Magazine: Lewinsky recalls terror
• Clinton settlement check in Jones case deposited with federal court

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