Healthy Kids in Oregon
Martha Alexander(Eugene), Barbara Edgren(Portland), and Kristi Lenaburg(Salem) share how the Healthy Kids program has helped their families.
Eugene
Martha Alexander
Martha works as an executive assistant and is also close to receiving her bachelor's degree in accounting. Her husband is a detailer at an auto dealership. They have two children. "Even though we are both working, we cannot afford health insurance. The costs are too high." Both of their children are receiving benefits through OHP's Healthy Kids.
Portland
Barbara Edgren
Barbara is a single mother of three teenagers. She is a self-employed hairdresser in Portland. “With one income it is very hard and health insurance is very expensive. I heard about Healthy Kids through the Portland Public Schools, something one of the kids brought home from school. “It has been great to know that their medical needs can be kept up on.”
Salem
Kristi Lenaburg
Kristi and her husband Travis have lived in Salem for about 7 years. They were both laid off of their jobs last fall. They have two children, Evah and Ethan, ages 5 and 3. The children had no health insurance. Their daughter had to go to the emergency room in December and without health insurance it was very costly. They learned that they would qualify for Healthy Kids for their children and have signed up. "We are very relieved to have the children insured," Kristi says. While looking for jobs in this very difficult market, Travis went back to school and got an advanced certificate for welders in the hopes of expanding options for him. Kristi, an administrative assistant is looking into opening a home day care. They are hoping to both be employed soon.
