Camanche – The California Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board announced last week that funding has reopened the state Healthy Families insurance program. The board said funding is now sufficient to avoid dis-enrolling children” and “to open the program to new enrollment,” which began September 17th. The agency has already begun processing waiting list applications. Funding came from passage of Assembly Bill 1422, setting “a gross premium tax paid by Medi-Cal managed care plans,” and from the state First Five Commission. Cuts to expenditures, and increased premiums and co-payments also helped reopen the program. The Healthy Families Program provides low cost health, dental and vision coverage to uninsured children, until the age 19, in working families. To qualify, children must be uninsured with no employer-sponsored insurance in the last three months. It is open to California residents, who are not enrolled in no-cost Medi-Cal. Children must meet citizenship, immigration and family income requirements. The Insurance Board said Healthy Families keeps nearly 900,000 California children insured, and gives thousands more children access to health care. Shannon Mosher, operations manager of the Camanche Lake Community Center, runs an enrollment program for the Amador-Tuolumne Community Action Agency. She said “people can sit down with me and I’m certified to help them fill out their applications.” A-CTAA has a grant from the United Way, Mosher said. “This is the fifth year we’ve been funded by them.” They normally get $40,000 a year, and this year received $42,000. She said: “We’ve enrolled about 100 kids every year for the last 5 years. We’d love to help more.” She said she was sure there are more people who may need help, due to the recession. The program gives medical insurance at different premium rates, based on family size and income. Premium rates depend on income level and children’s ages, but there are different deductions that are factored in, Mosher said. “For a family of four, you can make up to almost $48,000 a year, but that’s after the deductions have been taken off,” so it could be close to $50,000. She said enrollment has reopened, and she helped a family apply on Wednesday. Mosher said applications take about a half hour online. Call Camanche Community Center at 763-2794 or the Upcountry Community Center at 296-2785 to sign up. If they cannot make it to those offices, families can arrange for a meeting in Jackson, Ione or Sutter Creek. Online, see www.healthyfamilies.ca.gov or call 1(800) 880-5305. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.