Local clinics to help disadvantaged youth

By Jim Tiffin
Cibola County Bureau

GALLUP — Insure New Mexico will be enrolling children in households that need medical insurance at free or no cost at special clinics throughout the state next week. Children will also be given immunizations and flu shots during the clinic hours.

The clinics have been in the planning stage for about a year.

In Gallup and Pine Hill, the two clinics are the Heavenly Health Clinic, 308 E. Hill Ave., and in Pine Hill it is at the Pine Hill Health Center, said Betina Gonzales McCracken, spokeswoman for the New Mexico Human Services Department.

Parents are advised to bring original birth certificates, proof of identity and income, Social Security number and proof of any other health insurance they have.

The clinic hours at Heavenly will be on Feb. 15, from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; at Pine Hill on Feb. 13, from 10 a.m.-7 p.m.

Families with children who are not covered with medical insurance qualify by a sliding scale of income.

The scale goes to 235 percent of the federal poverty level, which is $851 for one person and a sliding scale to $2,881 for and eight person household.

The Insure program provides health coverage of small businesses or organizations with 50 or fewer employees and is a one-stop shop, she said.

The various coverage programs are:

• New Mexikids: Coverage is provided to children and teens through the age of 18 with household income up to 235 percent of the federal poverty level. Some earned income and child costs do not apply for children through the age of 5, which allows more children to qualify. Heath care is provided for households with income at 185 percent above the FPL. Homes with children with income between 185 percent to 235 percent of FPL may be required to make some small co-payments for some services. New Mexikids pays for regular check-ups, doctor visits, dental visits, hospital care, prescriptions, glasses, hearing and vision exams. Other services may be paid for if medically necessary.
• Premium Assistance for Kids. This program covers children and teens from age 12 through 18 who are ineligible for New Mexikids due to income. The state provides 50 percent of the cost of the premiums, which range from $70 to $180 each month. This package include preventive medical care, primary and specialty care, inpatient and outpatient care, pharmacy, lab, radiology, physical and occupational and speech therapies.
• Premium Assistance for Maternity: Offers pregnancy-related services for women who are ineligible for Medicaid maternity services. A one time fee is required per pregnancy: During the first 20 weeks, $150; the second 20 weeks, $300.
• State Coverage Insurance: this covers uninsured adults age 19-64 with a total family income of up to 200 percent of the FPL. SCI is a public and private partnership ,where the employee pays a portion, up to $75, of the monthly premium, the employee pays up to $35 of the premium and the state and federal government pays the remainder. This program also covers self-employed individuals.
• Three other programs are available: New Mexico Medical Insurance Pool, Small Employers Insurance Program, and Health Insurance Alliance.