khn.org – How Baby Erik Got Health Insurance | Kaiser Health News

It took his parents 86 phone calls and six months to get their newborn enrolled in a Pennsylvania program for children.

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description It took his parents 86 phone calls and six months to get their newborn enrolled in a Pennsylvania program for children.
author Don Sapatkin, The Philadelphia Inquirer
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How Baby Erik Got Health Insurance Kaiser News Share This Story Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Print Republish Toggle navigation Contact Us Support Our Work Connect With Instagram RSS COVID- Race Elections Investigations Bill Of The Month Lost On Frontline Underfunded And Under Threat UVA Lawsuits Pharma Cash To Congress Data Docs ALL KHN INVESTIGATIONS More Topics Aging Medicaid Medicare Care Costs Mental Public Uninsured Podcasts By Don Sapatkin Philadelphia Inquirer July story was produced in partnership with Two days after Friedman born his parents applied for coverage under Pennsylvania s universal Children Program Six months later they got it p Ari left and wife Tara Mendola right their one-year-old son center some of the paperwork that documents experience trying to get routine newborn by state Photo Michael Bryant What happened between were phone calls two lost applications a calculation error tripled income raised premium incorrect advice should did drop baby catastrophic health insurance qualify multiple promises responses never came collection agency letters hospital bills which course hadn t been paid often this happens is unclear State officials say rare advocates note many low-income families might not know where turn help simply give up Ph D student an M -Ph had no intention giving eventually involving Gov Tom Corbett office secure It just felt like only someone both privilege lot free time could into program said who her husband documented each contact recounted case eye-opening article journal Affairs Amid frustration couple wrote hopefully coming changes mandated federal care overhaul are intended streamline states approval processes public But those will coincide tsunami newly covered patients expected hit on Jan That when hundreds thousands Pennsylvanians become eligible bought through online marketplace or exchange at least more already apply first due hoopla legislature has so far rejected optional expansion acceptance would add half-million enrollees In Harrisburg sprawling primarily responsible little odyssey Department Welfare also handles its county assistance offices initial CHIP eager Its full benefits from commercial insurers include prescription drugs dental vision deductibles doctor copays preexisting conditions aren considered Any citizen even Gates family if lived here can but premiums based wealthier paying monthly cost child now covers children April When he called next week follow told application eight pages plus reams documentation reapply He immediately then check again hold system cut him off second third sometimes seconds other times minutes No voice mail person Just random hangups being rat cage Wait shock them Eventually Someone answered access joint lowest-income Applications routed one depending So wasn surprised letter few weeks ineligible didn mention After dozens because necessary sent fax attached e-mail They send old learned file flagged code odd since DPW worker exist She ticket district three resolve Nothing Recalling whole recently as squealed delight newfound ability run around West Powelton rowhouse don come across angry Eighth-grade sweethearts Alabama ended University warm easygoing organized fifth-year economics alternating Penn medical business schools sixth-year graduate comparative literature New York back extensive travel Fulbright scholarship national security grant she specializes medieval Arabic French resisted editor entreaties put emotion people have worse Through systemic breakdowns individual caseworkers employees we reached empathetic kind Yet seemed At luck looked city bicycled over hoping see supervisor found demolished building attempt result address listed website may affiliated led meeting wonderful employee promised move forward day rejection arrived great news consideration Keystone Plan East contractor A representative moved quickly sending oversees advising let lapse be uninsured infants exempt reluctantly complied Fearful concrete way protect our financial taken away every politician attaching photo -month-old make harder ignore within referencing stipends multiplied eightfold pay stubs reconsidered enrolled correct top official apologize backdate policy still past costs too embarrassed ask Neither parent Independence Blue Cross nor agencies discuss citing privacy laws all try do better If IBC does advise spokeswoman Ruth Stoolman e-mailed without denying Press secretary Rosanne Placey thorough review although apparently reach until governor intervened I acceptable keep tenterhooks regarding via press Carey Miller means indicative strive provide daily basis single-biggest grievance phones hung repeatedly while common complaint clients drew Unfortunately capability track errors always working towards providing best possible customer service Affordable Act certain substantially increase workload require major shifts procedures department training staff new IT systems mandatory eligibility hiring workers job fair held recruit 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