Parents may apply for the Primary Care Network (PCN), May 3- 12. Parents who are uninsured and have children at home under age 19, may qualify for health insurance offered through PCN. The Utah Department of Health (UDOH) will accept all eligible parents who apply during this Open Enrollment session.

Interested parents may apply online, by mail, or in person at an UDOH eligibility office. Call the Health Resource Line, 1-888-222-2542, to get an application by mail or to find a nearby UDOH eligibility office. Applications will only be accepted beginning Monday, May 3, and ending Wednesday, May 12, and must be postmarked between these dates. To apply online, visit www.health.utah.gov/pcn

According to the 2001 UDOH Health Status Survey, approximately 8.7 percent of Utah’s population lacks health insurance coverage. "The UDOH is pleased to offer health insurance coverage to parents during PCN Open Enrollment," says Scott Williams, M.D., Executive Director, UDOH. "Its important for parents to take care of their health so they can be there when their kids need them."

"I’m covered by PCN while two of my kids are covered by CHIP," says Sonja Petit of Sandy, Utah. "Because of these health plans, we can go to the doctor and get the health care that we need."

PCN is a health insurance plan for adults funded jointly by the state and federal governments. PCN provides preventive medical and dental services to adults who are age 19-64, have no other health insurance, do not have access to health insurance through an employer, are U.S. or legal residents, and meet income guidelines. To receive PCN, you must qualify based on family size and household income. For example, a family of four earning up to $28,275 a year may qualify. A yearly fee of $50 is required to enroll and small co-pays are charged for services. Currently just under 16,000 Utahns are enrolled on PCN.

CHIP (Utah’s Children’s Health Insurance Program) will also be taking applications during Open Enrollment, May 3-12. If you are applying for CHIP for your child during Open Enrollment, you don’t need to fill out another form. Your child’s CHIP application will be evaluated for PCN. Eligibility guidelines are slightly different for parents than for children. Even if your children are not applying for CHIP, if you are a parent who meets PCN qualifications, the UDOH encourages you to apply for PCN, May 3-12.

The federal government requires PCN to enroll more parents than people without children. Because of this, PCN schedules separate enrollment times for parents and those without children. The UDOH expects to hold Open Enrollment for those who are not parents in the late summer or fall.

For more information about PCN, call the Health Resource Line at 1-888-222-2542 or visit www.health.utah.gov/pcn

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