Published Originally in the Utah Statesman on Dec. 7, 2007; Online at Utah Statesman.
By JP Parrish
Staff Writer
LOGAN -- USU Extension is getting involved with marketing and promotional efforts about Utah’s Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) while the government is also maintaining a great level of involvement.
Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., alongside the Utah Department of Health, is working to ensure Utah’s children are covered with health insurance. CHIP covers well-child exams, immunizations, mental health services, dental care, prescriptions and hearing and eye exams.
Within the USU extension program, USU educators from across the state, in each extension campuses, are called agents. The agents teach primarily family and consumer science classes that help educate the community.
"USU Extension is getting involved by letting people in Utah know about CHIP and teaching low-income families how they can qualify to give their children the coverage they deserve," said Charles Gay associate vice president of USU Extension.
Britain Parrish, freshman majoring in pre-medical biology, was covered by the insurance while young.
"It paid for stuff… It was a 3$ co-pay for any doctors’ visit I went to, the dentist, the dermatologist, the gynecologist, the family doctor etc. and it was a $1 dollar co-pay for any prescription except birth control was not covered, unless it would've been a medical reason,” she said.
"In the past, CHIP has had to periodically close enrollment because the number of enrolled children was based on state and federal funding," said Ann House, USU Extension bankruptcy prevention agent. "Because of this, many have forgotten about the program or still think they can't enroll."
House said she deals with another program being used for marketing and informing the public--Utah Saves. House said Utah Saves is a program based on a national campaign called America Saves. These programs educate people and encourage and advise with financial concerns including evaluating spending habits, changing habits, and being more involved in your own finances. House also says she has added a question to her forms in efforts to gather data on who has health insurance in the state.
Concerning the promotional efforts, House said, “We need to expand it to reach more people."
She said it didn’t cover certain things as well. Eye exams for contacts and the contacts themselves weren’t paid for but regular eye exams and part of the glasses were covered.
To qualify for CHIP, people must have a low income.
Parrish said, “Both my parents were/are self-employed which is why we had no other health insurance from a company. If my dad had had a job that offered health benefits, we (wouldn't have) been entitled to CHIP.”
CHIP also has an age limit of 18 according to www.utahchip.org, the organizations web-page.
On the USU Extension Web site, it says, "Extension is unique in structure and function. As a partnership of federal, state, and local governments, the Extension System–with its network of county offices and state universities, is in a position to deliver educational programs at the grassroots level throughout the nation."
The extension is an outreach program to communities on more than 3,000 counties according to the Web site. Much research is accomplished through this, House said.
For information about CHIP and to see where the CHIP van will be next, visit www.health.utah.gov chip for a complete van tour schedule. Call 1-877-KIDS-NOW for an application or apply online at www.health.utah.gov/chip. To learn more about UPP, visit www.health.utah.gov/upp or call 1-888-222-2542. For information about PCN visit www.health.utah.gov/pcn or call 1-888-222-2542.
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