Parents getting kids back to school have great news in hand, and it’s all in an envelope that each back-to-schooler received (and, hopefully, delivered home) with the blue label “Important Information for the Health of Your Child.”

This important information is all about Cub Care. Cub Care, nicknamed after our UMaine Black Bear, is an exciting new offering of health care coverage for Maine’s children up to age 18. School-aged kids received this packet because of the foresight and exemplary, inter-departmental coordination of Commissioners Kevin Concannon and Duke Albanese in our state human service and education departments, who teamed together to use this back-to-school opportunity to spread the good news of Cub Care.

Cub Care means many more of the families in our neighborhoods will have the opportunity to appropriately utilize a “medical home” for all their children that will provide health care that is accessible, continuous, comprehensive and family-centered.

This is a major opportunity for Maine families because, of the New England states, we have the highest percentage of uninsured children. In terms of the kids we see on our way to work and at the ball fields and in the school yards, one out of every eight kids is not insured. In terms of total numbers of Maine children, as many as 40,000 of our kids go without coverage. Cub Care is Maine’s way improving this lack of coverage.

Here’s how it works: Families without health care coverage for their children will want to apply (See how to obtain application below.). The application procedure is miraculously simple! It’s one page, front and back. Questions to determine eligibility are basic. Parents simply state the names, address, family income and list who in the family is currently covered. Applying should take all of 10 minutes to complete and mail.

Eligibility will be based, in large part, on family income. Income limits are based on family size. Family size numbers include the parents living with the children. Specifically, the family size and income limits are as follows: Size of Family Income Limit: 1 $14,597 2 $19,629 3 $24,661 4 $29,693 5 $34,725 6 $39,757 7 $44,789 8 $49,821

Translated, kids in families of three (i.e., mom or dad and two kids) where the total family income is under $24,661 are now eligible for the health care help. In a family of four (i.e., mom and dad and two kids), if income is less than $29, 693, the two children are eligible.

For ease in remembering, simply remember that Cub Care will cover, ballpark, families of three making roughly $25,00, families of four making $30,00, families of five making roughly $35,000 and so on.

And, yes, there will be a slight premium for some families, but they will be very affordable and will be based on a sliding scale. These premiums could be as low as $60 for one child in a family with incomes beginning at, roughly, $16,000. The highest premiums will be $360 (total) for a family with 2 or more children. In short, Cub Care premiums will range from $60 to $360 per year per family.

So if the children in your family can use Cub Care’s help with health care coverage, or if you know a family who could benefit, by all means get an application and get it filled-out and mailed into your local site.

Here’s where to call to take full advantage of these children’s health care opportunities: Calais, 453-9020 or 1-800-622-1400; Caribou, 493-4050 or 1-800-432-7366; Bangor, 561-4333 or 1-800-432-7825; Ellsworth, 667-1656 or 1-800-432-7823; Farmington, 778-8223 or 1-800-442-6382; Fort Kent, 834-7770 or 1-800-432-7340; Houlton, 532-5055 or 1-800-432-7338; Machias, 255-2027 or 1-800-432-7846; Rockland, 596-4217 or 1-800-432-7802; Skowhegan, 474-4848 or 1-800-452-4602.

Spreading the word and helping Maine families is important. If history is any indication, lots of Maine’s kids will be eligible, but many parents will not know to apply. Outreach has been and will continue to be a problem. This the reason so many of us are working to get the word out. If you are a parent, grandparent of or friend and neighbor with families may benefit from Cub Care, by all means, spread the helpful word.

Cub Care opportunities are endless. Kids are the least expensive segment to keep healthy. When parents gamble and go without coverage, as an increasing number are doing, kids’ sicknesses tend to get worse before the parents bring them to a doctor to get better. With Cub Care, kids will get the far less expensive early care. Faster, better care also means we will all see more success in school. Johnny will be able to see the blackboard because his mom got him to doctor for an eye examination and Sarah will be able to hear the teacher because her dad got her to the doctor for treatment before her ear infection escalated into permanent hearing loss.

In turn, mom and dad will be forced into far fewer emergency room visits and missed hours or days from work. In addition to Cub Care’s helping to keep Maine kids healthier, it also means happier, more productive families and more productive Maine families will help keep Maine healthier economically as well.

Sen. Susan W. Longley, D-Waldo, has served on Maine’s Commission for Children’s Health as well as the National Conference of State Legislature’s Children’s Health Insurance Advisory Committee.