January 05, 2011

HealthCare Medical - Kiosks offer quick applications for insurance

The department in October unveiled a kiosk at the Shiprock Chapter House designed to give clients the ability to apply for or renew their Medicaid or Children's Health Insurance Program coverage.

Kiosks offer quick applications for insurance - Farmington Daily Times

By Alysa Landry The Daily Times
Posted: 01/05/2011 01:57:33 AM MST

SHIPROCK — The state Human Services Department is trying to help all children and families get health insurance.

The department in October unveiled a kiosk at the Shiprock Chapter House designed to give clients the ability to apply for or renew their Medicaid or Children's Health Insurance Program coverage.

The kiosk enables clients to submit applications on-line through a secure server. Clients also can scan and submit all required documents directly from the kiosk.

The documents then are sent to the Human Services Department or Income Support Division for processing.

"By bringing the application process to your community, it is HSD's intent to help all eligible children in the area get the health care coverage they need and deserve," the department stated in a prepared news release.

The state Human Services Department in 2009 was awarded a Children's Health Insurance Program Authorization grant of nearly $1 million. The money allowed the department to install kiosks to boost enrollment in the program.

"The kiosks will be located in schools, community centers and chapter houses, places that are more convenient to apply for services," said Carolyn Ingram, former director of the Medical Assistance Division.
Additional federal funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has helped support the state's costs for the Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program, which has allowed the state to keep covering eligible children without changes at this time, the department stated in its release.

More than 67 percent of those covered are children, former department Secretary Katie Falls said.

"During these difficult economic times we are pleased to serve as the safety net for those families who have lost their jobs and their insurance coverage and give parents the relief of knowing their children will continue to get the health coverage they need and deserve," she said.

To enroll for low- or no-cost health insurance, residents need an original birth certificate or tribal documents, proof of identity, Social Security number, proof of past four weeks of income and proof of other health insurance they may have.

Alysa Landry:
[email protected]

Kiosks offer quick applications for insurance - Farmington Daily Times

Posted by staff at January 5, 2011 10:55 AM