More than 8.5 million kids in America do not have health coverage. Many of them are eligible for low-cost or free coverage through either the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) or Medicaid, but they are not yet enrolled. Unfortunately, many working parents of children who are eligible for these programs are unaware that low-cost or free coverage is available for their children.

SCHIP and Medicaid provide child health coverage opportunities for working families. For instance, the children in a family of four that earns up to $37,000 a year are eligible for coverage in many states. In some states, including California and New York, a family of four can earn up to $47,000 a year or more and their children can still qualify.

African-American and Hispanic children are more likely to be without health coverage. Nearly 14 percent of all African-American children and more than 20 percent of Hispanic children in the U.S. are uninsured, but many are eligible for coverage through SCHIP or Medicaid. Among non-Hispanic white children, more than 7 percent are uninsured.

Minority Health Professions Foundation has joined with Covering Kids & Families, a national initiative of The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation designed to increase the number of children and adults who benefit from federal and state health coverage programs. Later this summer, Covering Kids & Families will launch its annual Back-to-School Campaign with events taking place in all 50 states and the District of Columbia in August and September. The campaign will also use public service announcements, media outreach, and corporate and organizational partnerships to get the word out that there is help available for these hard-working families and their children.

"Millions of children could be helped if more parents were aware of these valuable programs," said Sarah Shuptrine, Director, Covering Kids & Families. "Parents work hard to provide for their children, and they are often faced with hard choices on how best to care for them, such as having to choose between buying groceries or buying medicine. These parents are often forced to delay medical care—care children must have in order to live, learn and grow."

As a member of Minority Health Professions Foundation, we encourage you to help spread the word about programs that can help parents faced with these hard choices. The Covering Kids & Families Back-to-School Campaign Action Kit has all the tips and templates you need to participate at any level, whether you want to set up an enrollment event or write a letter to the editor. Free materials are available for you to distribute to potentially eligible families, including fliers and posters urging them to call 1(877) KIDS-NOW to find out if they are eligible. These materials can be viewed and ordered at www.coveringkidsandfamilies.org/communications/materials/order.

As families prepare their children to start a successful school year, the Covering Kids & Families Back-to-School Campaign will focus attention on the importance of health coverage for all children. Minority Health Professions Foundation hopes you will get involved and help make this a healthy school year for all of America’s children and their families.