'Healthy Kids' campaign sign-up begins

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - More than 127,000 children are eligible for Michigan's low-cost and free health insurance programs, and Grand Rapids school leaders kicked off an eight-week campaign to get kids enrolled.

The effort to enroll students in the programs, MIChild and Healthy Kids, will be done in school buildings and hospitals in certain areas. The process to enroll has been simplified, organizers said in a press release.

"A child who gets health care in the right place at the right time is better prepared to learn and less likely to develop serious, costly medical conditions," said Michigan Primary Care Association Executive Director Kim Sibilsky in a statement. "The goal of the Enroll Michigan back-to-school project is to help more Michigan children get affordable coverage, obtain the care they need, and become healthier and happier students."

Officials said some of the reasons parents didn't take advantage of these programs were language barriers, lack of transportation or telephone access. They addressed those issues and made the enrollment process simpler.

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