KIDS CONNECTION Information
Nebraska Department of Health & Human Services
September 15, 2010
The following article is courtesy of Nebraska Department of Health & Human Services, Division of Medicaid and Long-Term Care.
Kids Connection is health care coverage for qualified children who are without other health insurance and do not qualify for Medicaid. Federally called the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), it provides the same services as those covered under Nebraska's Medicaid Program. Both provide well-child health care in helping to prevent diseases, finding and treating problems early and maintaining good health and development, basic hospitalization, specialty care as needed and certain mental health services. Kids Connection currently serves around 27,000 of Nebraska's children and nearly 120,000 additional kids receive medical services under Nebraska's Medicaid Program. Changes to Federal and State legislation allowed income guidelines for Kids Connection to be relaxed last year so that more children are eligible.
Children who have health care coverage have a better chance of being healthy. It also allows parents to give their children the medical care necessary so that as students they stay healthy and focus on their studies. Students with health care coverage are less likely to miss school because of illness. Those who go to school every day, ready to learn, will perform better in school today and in the future (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services; “Insure Kids Now!”, 2007).
Information about Nebraska’s Kids Connection program can be accessed at http://www.dhhs.ne.gov/med/kidsconx.htm where parents or others may apply for medical assistance including Kids Connection through Nebraska's online "Access Nebraska" system. Kids Connection information is also available by calling toll-free at 1-877-632-5437.
Information sheets for Kids Connection are also available at Malcolm Public Schools in the office.
