Health Access / Healthy Kids
More than 16,000 children age 0-18 in Sacramento County have no health insurance. Two-thirds of these children are eligible for existing public children’s health insurance programs such as Medi-Cal and Healthy Families. Without access to regular preventive and primary care, children in Sacramento County lack a regular source of coordinated and continuous care (i.e., a medical home). This lack of access leads to poorer health outcomes, higher health system costs and overburdened emergency departments. What is First 5 Sacramento Doing About Providing Health Insurance?
First 5 Sacramento is working to increase the number of children enrolled in a medical home. A medical home refers to children having access to and using coordinated health, dental, mental health and other related services. First 5 Sacramento is Accomplishing This Goal in Three Ways:
- Cover the Kids (CTK) - Through First 5 Sacramento funding, CTK is working with families in the community to help them learn about and understand children’s health insurance programs like Medi-Cal, Healthy Families and Kaiser Permanente’s Child Health Plan. CTK also helps families fill out applications, learn how to use their health insurance and stay enrolled in their insurance program.
- Screen children for health insurance - First 5 Sacramento requires all of its contractors to screen children for health insurance and refer them to CTK if they are uninsured.
- Through the Sacramento County Child Protective Services (CPS) HEARTS for Kids Program, every eligible child age zero to five should receive a medical clearance exam upon entry into foster care, including a screening for a medical and dental home. Follow-up services by a public health nurse ensure that all recommended health examinations and referrals occur.
- Total Funding: $7,828,517 FY 2010-15
- First 5 Sacramento Staff Contact:
Linda Fong-Somera, (916) 876-7386
Funded Partners
Learn about the First 5 Sacramento community partners who provide children’s health insurance services for young children.
- Cover the Kids (CTK)
CTK organizes a county-wide campaign to provide outreach, enrollment, utilization and retention services for families with children ages zero to five into Medi-Cal, Healthy Families and/or Kaiser Permanente’s Child Health Plan. CTK provides continued follow-up with enrolled families at two, eight and thirteen months post-enrollment to assist with any issues that arise for the families regarding their health coverage. CTK will help you complete your child’s application for health insurance in your language. Call toll free (866) 850-4321 for more information.
- Total Funding: $3,905,450
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- County of Sacramento, Child Protective Services (CPS), HEARTS for Kids Program
The CPS HEARTS for Kids Program provides medical clearance exams for children age zero to five entering the foster care system. Public health nurses will conduct home visits with the children and their caregivers. The nurses will follow up with the families to encourage utilization of medical and dental homes, and to ensure that all necessary medical and dental needs are met.
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