Posted on 03/31/2004 12:21:57 PM PST by writer33
Tooth decay is the single most common chronic disease among Idaho children, but many families earn too much money to qualify for government assistance and still can't afford dental coverage for their kids.
"I got an application in today -- they made $2,000 more than what CHIP (Children's Health Insurance Program) would allow, so they're just kind of stuck in the middle," said Kathy Ellis, Idaho coordinator of the Caring Foundation for Children.
The Caring Foundation, administered by the health insurer Regence BlueShield of Idaho, gives kids from that middle no-insurance zone free dental care, up to $1,000 worth for a year. And it's looking to expand in North Idaho -- seeking more kids who need care, more dentists who want to participate and more financial donors.
"We'd love to get the word out," Ellis said. "We have this program that can help families who don't have any other resources for dental care."
The Caring Foundation for Children is now providing dental care for 350 children statewide, with the cooperation of more than 70 dentists who donate 30 percent of their usual fees. Donations gathered by the foundation pay for the rest of the cost.
But the program only has about 40 kids enrolled in the Panhandle, where four dentists participate in Coeur d'Alene and one in Sandpoint. The program, which started in the Boise area and expanded statewide last June, wants to bring more North Idaho kids on board.
"There are a lot of things beyond just the decay issue -- self esteem, physical health, school attendance," Ellis said. "All of these things can be affected by oral health for kids."
Cheyne Thornack of Rathdrum has seen that firsthand. Her children were covered under CHIP until she began making too much at work to qualify any longer. But the cost of covering her two daughters for dental insurance through her employer was prohibitive.
"If they don't have the dental care or the insurance to get the help, the cleanings they need, their teeth will rot," Thornack said. "If you don't have a good smile, you don't have good self-esteem."
Daughters Ruthy, 15, and Kelsie, 12, have been on the Caring Foundation program for nearly a year now, and will soon cycle off, "letting other people get on there," Thornack said. "After one (more) year, you can reapply."
Kids who qualify for the program can get dental services, including preventive and restorative care for a year. Then, they move off to allow another group to come on board.
"We want to rotate enrollment just so we can reach as many children as possible," Ellis said.
Thornack said her youngest daughter had a damaged tooth repaired that restored her bright smile, and made a lasting difference.
"They send out a little kit with toothbrush and toothpaste," she said. "It's a great program. I hope people utilize it. ... It's out there to help us, and they do a great job of it."
Idaho's Medicaid program serves people who make less than 133 percent of the federal poverty level, while the Children's Health Insurance Program covers kids whose families make 133 percent to 150 percent. The Regence program covers those who make between 150 percent and 200 percent of poverty.
"We're taking kids who are kind of in that gap in between," Ellis said.
When people apply for the program and they actually qualify for the more extensive benefits of CHIP or Medicaid, they're referred there.
For a family of four, 200 percent of the federal poverty level is $37,700 per year, so that's the income limit for a family of four to qualify for the Regence program.
Ellis said there are three criteria: Children must be under the age of 19; they cannot have any dental insurance coverage, whether public or private; and their family income must meet the guideline. That income level varies depending on the size of the household.
Regence pays for all administration costs for the program, including Ellis' salary, so that all donations the foundation collects go directly to pay for dental care for kids.
Just over a year ago, the program had only 10 dentists participating. Ellis said after a mailing went out to all of the approximately 900 practicing dentists in the state last summer, "We had a wonderful response. ... For about two weeks, my phones just rang off the hook."
Idaho Health and Welfare Department Spokesman Tom Shanahan said the state's last "smile survey" in 2001 found that nearly 28 percent of Idaho second- and third-graders have cavities that need treatment, "which is a pretty high number."
"They do need help," Shanahan said.
About 110,000 children were covered under Medicaid or CHIP last year, he said, but not all visited the dentist, even when they had coverage. "Sometimes the parents don't take them in, but sometimes it's hard to find providers," he said.
That's one advantage of the Regence program -- kids are referred to participating dentists in their areas. Ellis said that's one reason she needs to recruit more dentists from outlying towns in North Idaho, such as Wallace and Bonners Ferry, to give kids more access.
Shanahan lauded the Caring Foundation for the service. "We need either more programs or expansion of programs like this in order to serve more kids," he said, "because we have such a need."
Ahhhh. Doesn't this make you feel sad?
Shanahan lauded the Caring Foundation for the service. "We need either more programs or expansion of programs like this in order to serve more kids," he said, "because we have such a need."
And in the end, this is what it's all about. Spending more of your hard earned tax dollars.
Try reading the article before you expose your ignorance. This is a CHARITY program, not funded by public money. Plus, the dentists in the program are either discounting their fees to care for kids in this program, or they are donating their services.
My grandfather (and his two brothers) lived their entire lives without ever paying any federal or state income tax. Always were self-employed, cash-only or barter, never paid tax or SS.
Then later, people from a local organization of some sort literally harassed him to sign up for SS benefits (plus other stuff too, like utility subsidies for the elderly). He never asked for it or needed it but there they were, trying to solve a problem that didn’t exist.
It’s all about them building their little empire, IMO.
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