NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Governor Phil Bredesen announced today CoverKids, Tennessee’s health insurance program for uninsured children, is providing dental benefits to program members and giving families an easier way to enroll with an online application.

"The dental benefit is an important addition to CoverKids’ preventative health services,” Bredesen said.  “It makes CoverKids even more beneficial for the families who rely on the program and the online application should help even more families enroll in the program.”

Bredesen announced the changes during a CoverKids enrollment event at Le Bonheur Children’s Medical Center in Memphis.

CoverKids’ dental services include the following benefits:

• Oral exams and cleanings, up to twice a year, with no copays;
• X-rays, up to twice a year for bitewing, and full mouth, once every three years, with no copays;
• Routine fillings and stainless steel crowns, up to a $15 copay, depending on income; and
• Emergency services, four visits in a calendar year, up to a $15 copay for each visit, depending on income.

There are no deductibles for any dental services and CoverKids’ annual maximum for dental benefits is $600 per child per year. 

CoverKids’ members automatically receive the dental benefit, which is available to all new members joining the program. 

CoverKids began offering members vision benefits in January 2008, in its first expansion of benefits to members.   The vision benefit covers annual vision exams, glaucoma testing, eyeglass lenses or contact lenses once every 12 months and routine replacement of eyeglass frames once every 24 months.

Parents interested in signing their children up for CoverKids through the program’s online application, can go to www.CoverTN.gov and click the CoverKids Apply Now button.

Doral Dental of Tennessee is the administrator of the CoverKids dental benefit.  BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee administers CoverKids’ medical and vision benefits.

CoverKids currently has 24,916 members in the program.

CoverKids is part of Cover Tennessee, Bredesen’s multi-pronged effort to extend health insurance to Tennessee’s uninsured.

Cover Tennessee’s other programs are:  CoverTN, affordable, basic health insurance small businesses, individuals and the self-employed; AccessTN, comprehensive health insurance for Tennesseans with uninsurable or chronic health care conditions; and CoverRx, a pharmacy assistance program providing uninsured Tennesseans access to affordable prescriptions. 
 
For more information on any of the Cover Tennessee programs, visit www.CoverTN.gov or call 1-866-COVERTN.