In the past, Kentucky State has been passive regarding health issues but ever since Governor Steve Beshear steps into his position, things have been gradually looking up. He said that one of his administration’s objectives which is to improve Kentucky residents’ health is certainly ahead of the game.

Last Monday, Beshear went to Second Street Elementary School in Frankfort to announce that the state has enrolled 32,000 qualifying children in the state’s K-CHIP and Medicaid programs for health insurance. He also said that his original target goal which is to enroll 35,000 kids by June 2010 can probably be met by the end of 2009.

“The state will strive to sign up every eligible family because I believe we have a moral obligation to every child,” Beshear said. He said the numbers of eligible children and the increased enrollment reflect the situation of the economy.

The Kentucky Children’s Insurance Program or K-Chip insures children in families at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level (about $44,000 for a family of four). Vikki Franklin, spokeswoman for the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, explains that those children are from families who make too much to qualify for Medicaid but still can’t afford private insurance.

Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates, shared that KYA has petitioned state government for years “to see families as customers rather than as a burden on the state budget. The Beshear administration saw those potential K-CHIP families as customers.”