Health Partners to Offer Health Insurance Through the Children's Health Insurance Program

KidzPartners now available in Philadelphia County

PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 28 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Health Partners announced today that it is offering comprehensive health insurance through the state Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). CHIP, brought to you by Health Partners' newest program, KidzPartners, has already begun enrolling members in Philadelphia County and will expand to surrounding counties in the future.

CHIP offers quality health insurance to all uninsured children and teens up to age 19 that are not eligible for Medical Assistance. Most families receive CHIP coverage for free; others at low-cost. KidzPartners is part of Health Partners, a plan that has been providing area health coverage for close to 25 years through Pennsylvania's HealthChoices program.

"Children need immunizations, prescriptions, dental exams and regular health care. Without insurance, we know families can be hard-pressed to pay for what they know is best for their kids," says William S. George, President and CEO of Health Partners. "Now, through KidzPartners, we have expanded access to quality health insurance to thousands of families who lack commercial coverage and don't qualify for Medical Assistance. With unemployment at an all-time high, this is more critical than ever."

Those enrolled in the program will receive 12 months of coverage that must be renewed on an annual basis. Benefits for CHIP, brought to you by KidzPartners, include:

• Doctor's visits, including routine checkups
• Prescription drugs
• Immunizations
• Eye exams and eyeglasses
• Routine dental care
• Behavioral health care
• Emergency room and other hospital services
• Lab tests and x-rays
• And many more benefits
  

KidzPartners also provides additional benefits for its CHIP members, including Weight Watchers(R) and Fitness Center programs, as well as $100 toward orthodontia care in the second year of membership. To find out more about CHIP, brought to you by KidzPartners, or to apply, please call 1-888-888-1211 or 215-967-4540 (TTY 1-877-454-8477 or 215-849-1579) or visit www.kidzpartners.com.

About Health Partners:
Founded in 1984, Health Partners is the result of a unique collaboration among seven area hospitals to create a not-for-profit health plan for area residents. For close to 25 years, Health Partners has garnered national attention for innovations in Medicaid managed care, and now serves more than 153,000 Medical Assistance members throughout southeastern Pennsylvania. Health Partners recently launched KidzPartners, which provides free or low-cost health insurance to uninsured children and teens up to age 19 through the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP).