2 Enroll In State Health Insurance Program

CLEVELAND—A state health insurance program for middle-income children is off to a slow start, with only two enrolled so far.

The so-called buy-in program was launched in April for families earning too much to qualify for Medicaid coverage for the poor but with children with pre-existing conditions or chronic illnesses that make private insurance too expensive.

Officials say the response rate has been so low because many families don’t know about the state-funded program, or because they find they can’t afford the monthly premiums and co-payments.

Also, there are strict requirements for the program. Ohio Medicaid Director John Corlett says the state received applications for 335 children but many of those families had low incomes and were steered into Medicaid.
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