Healthy Kids Insurance in Colorado

More than 8 percent of children in the United States have no health insurance. The state of Colorado has taken steps to reduce the number of uncovered children by implementing the The Keeping Colorado Kids Healthy initiative. The health plan, called Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+), covers children from low-income families who would not otherwise qualify for Medicaid. Finding out if your children qualify for the program is a straightforward and simple process.

Financial Eligibility

• To find out if you are eligible, figure your family's combined gross monthly income, which is the amount you are paid before taxes. If you have a family of two, you can make up to $3,036 per month and qualify for CHP+. Higher incomes qualify as well if there are more people in your family. For example, a family of six can have an income of $6,153 per month. For eligibility purposes, a pregnant woman counts as two people. You may also subtract expenses such as child support and medical costs from your gross income before calculating your eligibility.

Cost

• You may have to pay an annual $35 enrollment fee for your family to receive benefits from the CHP+ program. The copay for a doctor's visit costs a maximum of $5, a visit to the emergency room no more than $15 and dental services $5 for most procedures. You will never be required to spend more than 5 percent of your income on these costs.

Services

• After your children qualify for CHP+, they will be eligible to receive a variety of medical services, including check-ups, immunizations, eyeglasses and hearing aids. Hospital services and prescriptions are also included. Pregnant women who are eligible for the program receive prenatal check-ups, labor and delivery costs and postnatal visits free of cost. Each child is also eligible for up to $600 per year in dental work. You will, however, need to use a CHP+ health care provider to receive these benefits.

How to Apply

• The CHP+ application is available in English and Spanish. You can call [phone] to request a copy of the CHP+ application, or go to the CHP+ website to download a copy (see Resources). Once you've filled out the application, send it to CHP+, P.O. Box 929, Denver, CO 80201. If you need assistance filling out the application you can call the 800 number for help.