New Ad Campaign Launches to Promote Access to Health Insurance for Pennsylvania's Children

HARRISBURG, Pa., March 3, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A new marketing campaign launches today aimed at ensuring Pennsylvanians understand that healthcare coverage is within reach for uninsured children.

The ads, themed "Within Reach," will ensure that every family knows that Pennsylvania's Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) can be their healthcare partner and will prompt families to take action to sign up if eligible for the program. The ads will run statewide through June 30 and will appear on TV and radio, as well as online and on billboards.

"A key component of Governor Corbett's Healthy Pennsylvania plan includes ensuring that every child in our state has access to quality healthcare," said Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner Michael Consedine. "This new CHIP message clearly reflects that accessibility and showcases the program's low-cost, generous benefits and robust network of medical providers."   

The "Within Reach" campaign:

• Features children of a variety of ages and ethnicities reaching for things in their everyday lives to help promote the idea that health coverage for uninsured kids is accessible.
• Shows that no matter what children are reaching for, CHIP is there for them with quality health insurance.
• Includes a substantial minority outreach component with grassroots enrollment efforts in Pennsylvania's largest urban areas, and Spanish-language materials and outreach.

"Governor Corbett and I believe that helping Pennsylvania's children stay healthy is a statewide concern that requires a statewide effort," Consedine said. "While the new campaign will be very visible and will boost overall awareness of CHIP, community outreach will play a key role in promoting the program and helping families to enroll, and we'll be calling on all of our partners to help in these efforts."

CHIP is one of Pennsylvania's most successful public-private partnerships. The state offers the program and defines its health plans. Private insurance carriers coordinate those benefits and the care they provide.

CHIP's generous benefits include: prescription drugs, check-ups, immunizations, diagnostic testing, emergency care and hospitalizations, vision care, hearing services, dental care and much more.

The program covers all uninsured kids up to age 19 who are not enrolled in or eligible for Medical Assistance.

Last fall, Governor Corbett pushed for the reauthorization of CHIP and the elimination of the program's waiting period for certain families. He has made the CHIP program a vital part of his broader vision to allow greater access to healthcare for all Pennsylvanians under his Healthy Pennsylvania initiative.

"We want to make eligible families across Pennsylvania aware of the program's excellent benefits and access to medical providers," Consedine said. "We also want to help families overcome any real or perceived obstacles to enrolling their children by letting them know that coverage is well within their reach."

Since 1992 CHIP has helped hundreds of thousands of working Pennsylvania families obtain free or low-cost health coverage for their children. Currently, there are approximately 187,000 children enrolled.

Individuals and organizations can learn more about the campaign and order CHIP materials by visiting www.chipcoverspakids.com and clicking on CHIP resources.

Media contact:  Rosanne Placey or Melissa Fox, 717-787-3289

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Insurance