There are around 17,000 uninsured children in Jacksonville.
On Thursday, the grant-funded Cover Jacksonville campaign called on the city’s faith community and minority media outlets to help spread the word about Florida Kid Care, the state's health insurance umbrella for children from low income families.
The program includes four categories of coverage: Medi Kids and Healthy Kids for children between 1 and 18, the Children’s Medical Services Network for special needs kids…and Medicaid.
Eligibility is based on income and family size…which means even working class families with employer-provided health insurance may qualify for inexpensive or subsidized coverage for their children through the state.
Jacksonville Health Commissioner, State Representative Mia Jones, says health insurance is a necessity for anyone with a child.
"When you don't have insurance, you say we're only going to deal with this if we absolutely have to. And that means that children may suffer longer. Parents may end up being off work longer because the kid ends up going into the hospital versus being able to get the care that they need."
Florida Kid Care covers everything from Doctor’s visits to emergencies and hospitalizations. It also includes mental health and dental coverage.
Cover Jacksonville is committed to bringing at least 28-hundred children under the Florida Kid Care umbrella by year's end.
