RADFORD – On March 11, Governor Timothy M. Kaine announced a $1 million grant to increase coverage for uninsured children. It is projected that there are more than 120,000 eligible children in Virginia not enrolled in state-sponsored health insurance programs such as the Family Access to Medical Insurance Security (FAMIS) or FAMIS Plus. At Radford University, Rhonda Seltz, director of the RU FAMIS Program, is working diligently to help enroll families in these affordable insurance programs.

In a difficult economic time when many are losing their health insurance, programs such as FAMIS ensure families are still able to afford insurance for their child, with co-payments generally costing $2 to $5.

Funded by a 2008 Project Connect grant from the Virginia Health Care Foundation and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation, the RU FAMIS Program is designed to identify and help enroll 1,200 uninsured eligible children and pregnant women in state-sponsored health insurance programs. There are no enrollment costs or monthly fees associated with these programs.

“This program gives families the opportunity to gain access to health coverage that they otherwise would not be able to receive,” said Seltz. “This translates into saved lives and better quality of life for many Southwest Virginia children.”

To qualify for enrollment, a child must be a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident, currently uninsured, live in the Commonwealth, be under the age of 19 and meet certain family income criteria.

Representatives from the RU FAMIS Program are available every non-holiday Monday at the Radford Virginia Employment Commission; the second and fourth Thursday of each month at the Radford Free Clinic; the last non-holiday Monday of each month at the Galax Virginia Employment Commission; the first non-holiday Monday of each month at the Wytheville Virginia Employment Commission; every Tuesday at the Free Clinic of the New River Valley in Christiansburg; and the third Monday of each month at the Floyd Free Clinic.

March 22-28 marks national Cover the Uninsured Week, and the RU FAMIS Program will be on-site at the following locations to help answer questions and enroll participants in state-sponsored health insurance programs. Representatives will also be distributing blue and yellow ribbons around Radford and Blacksburg to commemorate Cover the Uninsured Week.

Monday, March 23
8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Virginia Employment Commission, Radford

Tuesday, March 24
5-7 p.m.
Free Clinic of the New River Valley, Christiansburg

Wednesday, March 25
9:15-10:30 a.m.
Owens Banquet Hall, Virginia Tech

Thursday, March 26
11 a.m. -2 p.m.
Sterrett Facilities Complex, Virginia Tech

Thursday, March 26
5 -7 p.m.
Radford Worship Center

Friday, March 27
9:15-10:30 a.m.
West End Market, Virginia Tech

Friday, March 27
1-4 p.m.
Schultz Dining Hall, Virginia Tech

To learn more about RU FAMIS and registration sessions, contact Rhonda Seltz at rgseltz@radford.edu or (540) 831-7693. To learn more about Cover the Uninsured, visit http://covertheuninsured.org/.