There are more than 44 million Americans, including
8.5 million children, living without health insurance. To bring
the topic into the national spotlight, the second annual Cover the
Uninsured Week is scheduled from Monday, May 10 through Sunday,
May 16. Former Presidents Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford will once
again serve as honorary co-chairs.
The Greater Kansas City Cover the Uninsured Week Coalition
is planning a number of activities during the week including a Small
Business Breakfast on Wednesday, May 12, a health fair on Saturday,
May 15 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Health Awareness Sabbath in faith
communities throughout the Kansas City metropolitan area. Educators
will be provided with packets of information that will help students
get enrolled in federally mandated insurance programs and learn
about the location of free health clinics.
The goals of Cover the Uninsured Week are to:
- raise public awareness of the plight of more than 44 million
uninsured Americans
- help 300 uninsured locally fill out applications for health
insurance.
- generate significant media attention to the issue, both nationally
and in key communities across the country
- develop sustainable partnerships that can continue to work toward
coverage of the uninsured.
Members of the Greater Kansas City Cover the Uninsured Week Coalition
include Ascension Health, Catholic Charities of Kansas and Missouri,
Carondelet Home Care Services, Carondelet Manor, Department of Health
and Human Services, Diocese of Kansas City- St. Joseph, Family Health
Partners, First Guard Health Plan, HealthCare USA, HealthWave, Legal
Aid of Western Missouri, MC+, Providence Health, Providence Medical
Center- Kansas City, Kansas, St. Mary's Hospital of Blue Springs,
St. Mary's Manor, Saint John Hospital, Saint Joseph Health Center,
Salvation Army, Seton Center and Family Health of Kansas City, Missouri,
Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth Health System, Villa Saint Joseph,
West Central Health Education Center.
More information will be coming in the weeks ahead. If you are
interested in participating or would like the latest information,
please contact Janet Milkovich at 816-943-2564 or jmilkovich@carondelet.com
or check out the national website at www.covertheuninsuredweek.org.
|
