North Carolina Health Choice for Children is a state-designed program that provides health coverage to low-income children under the age of 19 who are not eligible for Medicaid and who have limited or no health insurance.

· A child whose family has a household income below 200% of the federal poverty level is eligible. For a family of 3, this works out to an annual income of about $36,620, or a monthly income of about $3,052.

· If your household income is between 151% and 200% of the federal poverty level, there is an enrollment fee of $50 for one child or $100 for two or more children. You are also required to make copayments.

· If your household income is at or below 150% of the federal poverty level, you are only required to make copayments for prescriptions drugs. Those copayments are $1 for a generic drug or for a brand-name drug for which no generic is available and $3 for a brand-name drug for which there is a generic available.

· Some of the benefits include hospitalization, physician services, prescription drugs, mental health services, and vision and dental care.

· To apply for the program, contact your county social services department or local health department. An application can be found on the program’s web site (http://www.dhhs.state.nc.us/dma/cpcont.htm).