Florida KidCare Health
Insurance
for Uninsured Children
|
Beginning this year, School Board employees with children
who are approved for participation in Florida KidCare/Florida
Healthy Kids programs may have their premiums payroll deducted.
Your child/children may be eligible for health insurance through
Florida KidCare, even if both parents are working. Florida
KidCare offers affordable, low-cost health insurance for uninsured
children beginning at birth through age 18. There are four
different programs. When you apply for the insurance, the
KidCare office will determine which program your child/children
may be eligible for based upon age and family income: MediKids
is for children ages 1 through 4, Healthy Kids is for children
5 through 18, Children’s Medical Services Network is
for children from birth through 18 who have special health
needs or ongoing medical conditions, and Medicaid is for children
from birth through 18.
Florida Healthy Kids began in 1990 providing subsidized health
care coverage for children ages 5-18 whose families earn less
than two times the federal poverty level per year. Premiums
depend upon your household’s size and income, with most
families paying $15. If you need to pay more, Florida KidCare
will let you know. Eligible families that earn more than the
income limits may buy Healthy Kids insurance by paying full
premiums.
Healthy Kids uses selected doctors, hospitals, therapists,
or health plans to provide services. Examples of some covered
services are; doctor visits, check-ups, immunizations, emergency
room visits, hospitalization and prescriptions. Families pay
small copayment of $3 to $10 for some medical services, such
as prescriptions.
It is easy to apply, for an application call 1-888-540-5437
or visit their Web site ( www.floridakidscare.org)
Fill out the simple application form and mail it as soon as
possible. Within one week, you will receive confirmation of
your application. The complete application process may take
several weeks and coverage begins after the application is
processed and approved. Florida Healthy Kids will let you
know when the insurance begins. To receive a payroll deduction
form call 1-888-352-5437, ext. 6105. |
It’s hard to believe, but Broward County Public Schools
is nearly halfway through its five-year strategic plan. The
District has made considerable progress on the goals and objectives
of the plan and now it is time to start the planning process
once again. One lesson learned with this Strategic Plan is
that the progress that has been made is a shared responsibility
involving teachers, parents, students, administrators, support
staff, and the community. On December 10, 2002, the Division
of Communications, Strategic Planning and Community Relations
will facilitate a workshop with Board members to revisit the
mission and goals of the plan. A belief that will guide that
discussion is that of shared responsibility. Public schools
cannot survive, much less thrive, without all of the community
being responsible for educational excellence. Read what the
Strategic Plan Executive Steering Committee co chairs Wilhelmena
Mack and Phil McNally wrote in the recently published “Report
to the Community, 2002” condensed below.
“Our underlying premise when entering the Strategic
Planning process two years ago was centered on the belief
that to ensure educational excellence for our students, we
all needed to embrace the concept of shared responsibility.
“Traditionally the business community had not been a
part of this concept, excluded from giving input in a wide
range of school issues, from technology to Human Resources,
from literacy to truancy. As a result, boardrooms and classrooms
never connected to find shared resources or shared solutions.
“Our Strategic Planning process dramatically changed
that disconcerting disconnect. When we are informed of challenges
… we contact outside business resources and introduce
strategic partners to get the job done. We accept and encourage
shared challenges and embrace a shared commitment to ensure
that all students achieve.”
The 2002 Annual Customer Survey focused on the hot
topic of seeking business sponsorships as a means of raising
funds. The survey showed that 71.9% of teachers, 57.2% of
students, and 52.1% of parents think schools should seek such
business sponsorships. This topic will certainly be one that
will be considered as the next strategic planning process
begins. This is all part of the Sterling Continuous Improvement
Cycle of Plan, Do, Study, Act (PDSA) and the Sterling Criteria
of Customer Focus.
If you have any comments, please contact Judy Zinn, Director,
Strategic Planning via e-mail or at 954-712-1547. |
