CoverKids stops enrolling children

ntributing to the problem.

CoverKids is a program that offers free comprehensive health insurance for children under 18 who don't qualify for TennCare, but now, it has reached budget capacity.

"From the very beginning of Cover Kids we said we were going to work within our budget parameters, and we've managed to do that," said the Programs Director Bob Duncan.

Cover Kids is only five months into their fiscal budget year, but the demand is high. Duncan says it's no secret as to why, it's the economy.

"I think it has a lot to with both the increase in CoverKids as well as what our folks at TennCare have seen," Duncan said. "There's a lot of unemployment, layoffs and those types of things unfortunately we live in a world where we have to manage within our budget like people at home do and that's what we're trying to do with the State budget."

Tennessee has always had high number of uninsured kids.

Duncan says the program first started in 2007, officials estimated that somewhere between 40,000 and 45,000 children would qualify, and currently, about 44,000 children are enrolled.

CoverKids is hoping the state legislature will find room in the budget to allow them to reopen enrollment.

They also say that there may be other options to get them started again.

Duncan said, "Through natural attrition, children will age off or get private insurance and move off, and as that happens through time, we'll get to a certain number. Then we'll be able to open enrollment back up."

The enrollment deadline only impacted new applicants, not children who are currently covered under the program.