The Department of Health is sponsoring an extensive outreach campaign throughout the months of August and September as part of its annual Back-to-School enrollment drive. Statewide efforts will focus on informing the public about the availability of public health coverage for uninsured children through the Louisiana Children’s Health Insurance Program (LaCHIP), the LaCHIP Affordable Plan and other Medicaid programs.
LaCHIP and the LaCHIP Affordable Plan are available for uninsured Louisiana children age 18 and under. Families with income at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level – about $3,534 per month for a family of four – can secure health coverage for their children at no cost through LaCHIP. With LaCHIP Affordable Plan, families with income between 200 percent and 250 percent of the FPL – up to $4,417 for a family of four – can purchase health coverage for a $50 monthly premium, plus co-payments.
The Back-to-School outreach will cover the state, with LaCHIP representatives participating in events held at schools, stores, churches and community centers. Workers will be distributing information about various health coverage programs; processing LaCHIP; LaCHIP Affordable Plan and Medicaid applications; renewing coverage for families that need to update their contact information; and providing information on eligibility determinations when possible.
LaCHIP will also extend its state coverage by increasing hours for its toll-free hotline, 1-877-2LaCHIP (1-877-252-2447). Operators will be available from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays. The new hotline hours began on Monday, August 4 and will run throughout the month of August.
Applications and renewal forms are available online at www.lachip.org or by calling the toll-free LaCHIP hotline at (877) 2LaCHIP(252-2447).