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News release

If You Need Health Care Coverage for Your Kids, There Is Something You Should Know

February 15, 2011
Health Care

Lisa Lederer, 202-371-1996

March 1 Is Final Day to Enroll California Children in Private Insurance Plans and Ensure Lower Rates
If your child has a pre-existing health condition, whether or not she or he has been denied insurance coverage in the past, you can enroll that child now and ensure a lower rate if you act before March 1.
 
The new federal Affordable Care Act prohibits private health insurance companies from denying coverage to children due to pre-existing conditions like asthma, diabetes, cancer or other previous or ongoing illnesses. MomsRising.org, an online and on-the-ground grassroots organization for moms, and everyone who has a mom, is letting families know that in California, these children are assured lower rates if their parents apply for private coverage during an "open enrollment" period, which ends March 1.
 
Parents, grandparents and guardians can find more information about possible insurance options at http://finder.healthcare.gov.
 
“As parents, ensuring that our children are healthy and can stay healthy is one of our greatest concerns,” said MomsRising Executive Director Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner. “We want to be sure that all California parents are aware of the deadline for ensuring lower insurance rates and also that they take advantage of this opportunity to get their kids the health care coverage they need.”
 
Two in three uninsured children are eligible for low-cost comprehensive coverage through the state programs, Healthy Families or Medi-Cal. To find out if your child may be eligible, call 1-877-KIDS-NOW.
 

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MomsRising.org is an on-the-ground and online grassroots organization of more than a million people who are working to increase family economic security, decrease discrimination against women and moms, and to build a nation where businesses and families can thrive. Established in 2006, MomsRising and its members are organizing and speaking out to improve public policy and to change the national dialogue on issues that are critically important to America’s families, including criminal justice reform, immigration policy reform, and gun safety. MomsRising is working for paid family and medical leave, affordable, high quality childcare and early learning, and for an end to the wage and hiring discrimination which penalizes women — particularly moms and women of color — and so many others. MomsRising advocates for access to healthy food for all kids, health care for all, earned sick days, and breastfeeding rights so that all children can have a healthy start. MomsRising maintains a Spanish language website: MamásConPoder.org. Sign up online at www.MomsRising.org — and follow us on our blog, and on Twitter and Facebook.