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Governor Rod Blagojevich Helps Families Sign Up

Chicago- The new program in Illinois for children’s health care, “All Kids,” has gained more than 1000 new enrollees as a result of a recent membership drive.

The Illinois Governor, Rod Blagojevich helped to sign up children and their families at a Chicago area hospital on Saturday in an effort to help raise awareness of the new health plan and its benefits for children that do not currently have health coverage.

“Some families are struggling just to make ends meet, not just health care,” said Governor Blagojevich. “This is just an effort to support families and children’s health,” he said.

The Governor announced at a news conference that was being held at St. Mary of Nazareth Hospital located on the North side of Chicago that children who signed up there on Saturday would also receive a gas card for their families worth $50 dollars.

Over 50 sites across Illinois were signing up children on Saturday for the new health program, All Kids.

About 1.4 million children have signed up since the program was started in July of 2006, but the program is just now getting going at full steam.

It is estimated by the Governor’s office that nearly 200,000 additional children in Illinois still lack basic health care coverage.