Gregory Guzman took his two youngest children to the library on Saturday morning and managed to solve a problem that had been bothering him for quite some time.
Guzman, 47, a truck driver who lives in Pilsen, said he had called an insurer to get health care benefits for himself and his five children, but was told it would cost between $500 and $800 a month–more than he could afford.
“I was more worried about the kids than I was about myself,” Guzman said. “They’re accident-prone. They’re more liable to get sick.”
Luckily, he found another option at his neighborhood branch of the Chicago Public Library. He enrolled his children in KidCare, a state- and federally funded program that offers free or low-cost medical coverage to children, teens and pregnant women.
“We think it’s very important for working families to realize the KidCare program exists,” said Commissioner Mary Dempsey of the Chicago Public Library.
“Since many people come to the public library for health information, it seems to be a logical marriage for us to have all the program information, applications and the brochures on hand to help them sign up,” Dempsey said.
On Saturday, representatives of the United Way, Chicago Board of Health and other agencies went to 78 public library branches in Chicago to help parents obtain medical and dental insurance for their children. Premiums are based on parents’ salaries. Robyn Gabel, executive director of the Illinois Maternal and Child Health Care Coalition, said many applicants have qualified for free benefits.
Another parent, Guillermo Castellanos, enrolled his 4-year-old daughter, Irene.
Castellanos, 45, lives in the Little Village community. He said that until Saturday, he considered medical insurance for his daughter too costly for him to afford.
“It’s a good idea to have programs like this,” Castellanos said.
