As the impact of the recession continues to bear down on the country, a growing number of people face threats to their ability to provide their family's basic needs, including health care. Even in Chester County, one of the wealthiest counties in Pennsylvania, more than 26,000 adults and children are uninsured, and this number continues to swell. Medical Assistance applications in the county have increased by 30 percent from 2009 to 2010, the second highest increase among all Pennsylvania counties.

In these difficult economic times and long before, the Maternal and Child Health Consortium of Chester County (MCHC) has helped uninsured families obtain health coverage through our community-based approach.  Since 1996, our bilingual and bicultural staff has coordinated a countywide Health Insurance Enrollment Initiative for women, children and families, which includes outreach and education about subsidized health insurance and enrollment assistance into Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program.  In 2009, we enrolled 2,014 individuals (including 1,467 children), a 10 percent increase from 2008. "Richard" and his family of four were enrollees:

Richard was a network computer specialist and was excelling professionally until his company abruptly went out of business.  Like hundreds of other Chester County residents, Richard faced the frightening prospect of no health insurance for himself, his pregnant wife and his three children.  Anne, Richard’s wife, was expecting their fourth child very soon. Their three children, Jack, Sarah and Ethan, were involved in many after-school activities, including sports. Anne and Richard made the difficult decision to pull their children out of their sports activities, worried that they could be injured and unable to secure medical care because of the lack of insurance. 

Richard and Anne’s biggest concern was the family’s health insurance coverage.  With no place to turn, they looked for information in the phone book and found their local MCHC office.  When Richard and Anne contacted MCHC, a Family Health Advocate helped them to fill out the necessary forms to enroll their children in Pennsylvania’s CHIP.  The Family Health Advocate also helped Anne fill out the necessary paperwork to be eligible for Medical Assistance for prenatal care.

MCHC has witnessed firsthand how the ailing economy has increased the need for health care and changed the face of those who seek help. Despite such uncertain times, MCHC has remained a community leader in providing a bridge to health care.  For more information on Chester County’s MCHC, check their website www.ccmchc.org or contact Pamela Bryer, MPH, at pbryer@ccmchc.org.