Covering Kids and Families Announces Cover the Uninsured Week

United Way of Madison County and Covering Kids and Families Announces Cover the Uninsured Week 

United Way of Madison County, through its ongoing partnership with Covering Kids and Families of Indiana has announced Cover the Uninsured Week Monday, April 25 through Saturday, April 30.  Cover the Uninsured Week is an opportunity for Madison County residents and organizations to focus and align efforts in enrolling Madison County’s 20,000 uninsured individuals. Health care providers, non-profit service providers and volunteers will be active throughout the county. Activities include on-site enrollment by professional enrollment specialists at local organizations, staffing tables at high-traffic lobbies and entrances and promoting insurance coverage with flyers and other handouts via United Way’s many partners.    

In 2009, The United States Census released their most recent version of the American Communities Survey (ACS), which estimated that over 16% of Madison County residents were uninsured. The ACS estimates that over 20,000 individuals in Madison County are uninsured, including 3,000 children. The Covering Kids and Families Coalition of Madison County is a local group of providers, non-profit organizations and volunteers seeking to reduce the number of insured individuals through promoting enrollment in Hoosier Healthwise and the Healthy Indiana Plan and advocating for the uninsured. Promoting insurance coverage helps secure a healthier, more economically vibrant Madison County. Uninsured residents are more likely to make non-urgent visits to the emergency room that they can’t afford to pay for. The costs are pushed onto other consumers through higher bills. Unhealthy workers suffering from chronic illnesses will be less productive and claim more sick days and children suffering from untreated learning disabilities and other illnesses are less likely to reach their full potential in the classroom.  

Volunteers are needed to distribute flyers and referral forms for organizations to local churches, preschools and businesses/organizations.  Volunteers are also needed to help staff informational tables at different locations throughout Madison County.  Contact Jamesey Thomas at 765-608-3060 or at j.thomas@unitedwaymadisonco.org to volunteer.  If you know someone that is uninsured, please have them call or complete an online referral to be connected with a local enrollment specialist.