New Jersey Pilot Program Insures Newborns Without Coverage

The program is the latest effort by the state to identify uninsured children and provide them insurance coverage. For example, in June the state rolled out the "Express Lane Eligibility" program that uses information from tax forms to determine whether children have health insurance, and helps parents enroll them in the FamilyCare program if they are not.

Officials say Insured for Sure provides the tools necessary for hospitals to expedite coverage to newborns and eliminate delays that might otherwise result in costly healthcare charges.

"In these participating hospitals, we can now guarantee that no New Jersey newborn leaves the hospital without health insurance," said Health and Senior Services Commissioner Heather Howard in a statement. "Having health insurance is the first step in ensuring the youngest New Jerseyans have a healthy start in life."

In a statement, New Jersey Hospital Association President and CEO Elizabeth A. Ryan, Esq. said, the Insured for Sure program will take away obstacles families without insurance encounter in getting healthcare coverage, and help them enroll their children in a health plan.

"NJ FamilyCare can give New Jersey's children a healthy start in life, but there remain a number of families that fail to enroll," Ryan said. "What better place to reach out to these families than the very hospitals they turn to when in need?"