Do youth you serve have health insurance?

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Do youth you serve have health insurance?
Health Check / NC Health Choice Orientation for
Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency
Prevention Court Counselors
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Why is it important?

• YOU want youth to have the range of services they
  need.
• YOU are an important resource to either provide
  or link youth to these services.
• YOU can improve access to services for the youth
  you serve by helping them get insured.

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Do you need to be an expert to promote NCs child
health insurance programs?

• No. Families just need to know that North
  Carolina offers two child health insurance
  programs.
• A simple handout (an envelope stuffer) helps
  families determine if they qualify and provides a
  Web site and toll-free number for more
  information.
• This presentation provides a brief overview of
  the child health insurance programs to help you
  feel more comfortable in your outreach role.

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What child health insurance programs does North
Carolina offer?

• North Carolina has two health insurance programs
  for children and youth
• Health Check (Medicaid)
• N.C. Health Choice
• Both are similar in what they offer
• One application is used to determine eligibility
  for both programs
• They are marketed together

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What are the benefits?

• Regular Checkups
• Sick Visits
• Medicines
• Immunizations
• Vision Hearing Care
• Dental Care

• Counseling
• Lab Tests
• Medical Equip Supplies
• Hospital Care
• Therapies
• Surgery

Additional benefits may be available for Children
and Youth with Special Health Care Needs. Call
1-800-737-3028 for more information.
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Why market the two programs together?

• Children may cross over from Health Check to NC
  Health Choice as they age.
• Families may have children in different programs.
• As a familys income changes, their children may
  go back and forth between programs.

200 (44,100) 100 (22,050) An
nual income for a family of 4
Poverty Level ()
NC Health Choice Income Guidelines
Health Check Income Guidelinesas of
April 1, 2009
0 1 6
18 Age (years)
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How can a family determine if their youth is
likely to qualify?
Income guidelines (valid 4/1/09 3/31/10)
Family Size Monthly Income
2 2,429
3 3,052
4 3,675
5 4,299
6 Add 624 for each additional family member.
Income before taxes. Youth from families who
earn more may qualify if they have child care,
work-related or child support expenses.
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In addition

• For both programs, the youth must
• Be a N.C. resident
• Be under age 19 (21 in some cases)
• Be eligible based on family income
• Provide or apply for a Social Security number

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And
For NC Health Choice, a youth must

• Be income ineligible for Health Check
  (Medicaid)
• Be uninsured on the day coverage starts (the
  local Department of Social Services can help the
  family with this).
• AND
• Have paid the annual enrollment fee (if it is
  required)

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Is a youth of immigrant parents eligible?

• Yes, if the youth was born in the USA and they
  qualify based on the familys income.
• The youth will need a Social Security Number to
  apply.
• Maybe, if the youth was born abroad.
• It depends on their immigration status. Check
  with the local department of social services to
  find out.
• Note Parents and youth DO NOT hurt their chances
  for naturalization by applying for childrens
  health insurance!!

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How much does coverage cost?

• Health Check (Medicaid)
• No annual enrollment fee
• N.C. Health Choice
• Annual enrollment fee depends on the
• familys income.
• Some families have NO annual enrollment fee
• Some families pay 50 per child or 100 for 2 or
  more children

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How can youth or their families obtain an
application for Health Check / N.C. Health Choice?

• To get an application
• Call the N.C Family Health Resource Line
  1-800-367-2229
• Go online to www.NCHealthyStart.org.Visit the
  FOR THE PUBLIC section and look for Child
  Health Insurance.
• Pick up a form at the local department of social
  services or health department.

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What if the family needs help filling out the
application?

• If the family needs help filling out the
  application, encourage them to visit their local
  department of social services.
• DSS can answer the familys questions and take
  their application when it is complete!

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What if the family completes the application on
their own? Then what?

• Families can mail or take the application to
  their local department of social services.
  Remind them to
• Attach copies of wage stubs or proof of income
  for the previous month.
• Include a phone number where the DSS worker can
  call if they have a question!
• For U.S. Citizens, the DSS will also need proof
  of citizenship and identity (for example, a
  certified U.S. birth certificate and
  government-issued photo identification card).
  DSS can help families obtain these documents.
• Social Services will notify the family by mail to
  let them know if they qualify. This can take up
  to 45 days.
• If they qualify they will get an insurance card
  and benefits booklet in the mail.

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Encourage newly enrolled youth to make the most
of their health insurance!

• Encourage youth and their families to
• Choose a doctor
• Every youth needs a Medical Home.
• The doctor can help you coordinate care needed by
  the youth you serve.
• Make an appointment for a checkup
• Then they will have a trusted place to go when
  problems arise.
• Call the doctor anytime
• Whenever youth or their families have
  health-related questions.
• Read the benefits handbooks
• They are available online at the
  www.NCHealthyStart.org Child Health Insurance Web
  Site. The books have lots of information about
  benefits and resources.

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Help your families stay enrolled!

• Remind youth and their families that they need to
  RE-ENROLL each year!
• Tell them to look for their re-enrollment packet
  in the mail.
• Explain how important it is for families to let
  the local department of social services know if
  they move!

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So How can DJJDP Court Counselors help?
What resources are available?
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How can DJJDP Court Counselors help?

• Learn about the states child health insurance
  programs so that you feel comfortable promoting
  Health Check (Medicaid for Children) and NC
  Health Choice. You do not have to be an expert!
• Display Health Check/NC Health Choice Posters.
• Complete the NC JOIN Family Data Sheet Medical
  Insurance Profile
• Ask if the youth is currently insured by Health
  Check (Medicaid), NC Health Choice or private
  insurance.
• Enter the youths insurance information.
• Distribute an envelope stuffer if the youth is
  currently uninsured and encourage them to enroll.
  
• Keep a small supply of application forms on
  hand if the family is ready to apply (or you can
  print the form through the link from the DJJDP
  Web Site www.ncdjjdp.org/resource/index.html )
• Remind them of the need to re-enroll once a year
  and that a re-enrollment packet will arrive by
  mail. To receive it their address must be kept
  current with the local DSS.
• Every 90 days, update the Medical Insurance
  Profile. If the youth was previously uninsured,
  this is an opportunity to see if they enrolled in
  Health Check/NC Health Choice.
• For Court Counselors working with youth about to
  be discharged from a Youth Development Center,
  coordinate with the local DSS in the youths
  county of residence so that eligibility can begin
  on the date of discharge.
• Refer families who have questions or need more
  information to the toll-free number or Web site
  listed on the envelope stuffer.
• Encourage families to go to their local DSS if
  they need help filling out
• the application form.

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What resources are available?

• North Carolina Healthy Start Foundation
• Campaign and materials development

• Provides FREE bilingual (English/Spanish)
  envelope stuffers, posters, and application
  forms!
• The fact sheets have been translated into 6
  additional languages
• (Arabic, Chinese, Hmong, Korean, Montagnard,
  Vietnamese).
• Materials can be ordered online, by fax or by
  mail.
• Go to www.NCHealthyStart.org and click on the
  Order link.
• OR link to everything you need from the DJJDP web
  site http//www.ncdjjdp.org/resource/index.html
  (See next slide)

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What resources are available?

• North Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice and
  Delinquency Prevention Web Site
• www.ncdjjdp.org/resource/index.html
• Links court counselors to Health Check (Medicaid)
  NC Health Choice materials
• on the DJJDP Partnership page of the NC Healthy
  Start Foundation Web Site
• Orientation PPT Presentation
• Facts at a Glance Handout
• Child Health Insurance Applications in English
  and Spanish
• Listing of Local DSS Addresses and Phone Numbers
  
• Online Order Form To order FREE bilingual
  (English/Spanish) envelope stuffers, posters and
  application forms.
• Directory of Health Check Coordinators Local
  outreach staff.
• Child Health Insurance Web Page

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What resources are available?

• North Carolina Family Health Resource Line
• Services in English and Spanish
• For Health Check / NC Health Choice
• Educates about child health insurance programs
• Mails single copies of print materials/
  application forms
• Refers families and youth for local assistance
• Helps link youth with health care providers

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What resources are available?

• Children with Special Health Care Needs Help Line
• 1-800-737-3028
• A toll-free line for those living with, caring
  for or concerned about a child or youth with
  special health care needs.
• Educates about Health Check / Health Choice
  insurance benefits
• Provides information and referrals to other state
  and local resources
• Links to providers/ specialists
• Helps problem solve

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For more information to order materials

• http//www.NCHealthyStart.org
• For more information
• Click on For the Public, then Child Health
  Insurance
• To order materials
• Click on Order Form
• Or
• Link to everything you need from the DJJDP web
  site
• http//www.ncdjjdp.org/resource/index.html

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Questions?

• For Questions About the Partnership Between DJJDP
  
• the Division of Public Health
• Martin Pharr 919-733-3388 (Ext. 8187) or
  Martin.Pharr_at_ncmail.net
• Judy Stephens 919-733-3388 (Ext. 8243) or
  Judy.Stephens_at_ncmail.net
• For Questions About Health Check / NC Health
  Choice
• Carolyn Sexton 919-707-5642 or
  Carolyn.Sexton_at_ncmail.net
• Local Health Check Coordinator
• For Questions About Ordering Materials
• Ania Boer 919-828-1819 or Ania_at_NCHealthyStart.or
  g

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Health Check / NC Health Choice Online
Orientation for DJJDP Court Counselors

• Training Session Participation
• Please print out this slide, sign and date below
• and turn into your supervisor.
• Signature ___________________ Date _________
• THANK YOU for improving access to services for
  the youth you serve by helping them get insured!