NASHVILLE -- Gov. Phil Bredesen said Thursday night that CoverKids, the state's program for uninsured children, will reopen enrollment to new members on March 1, four months earlier than planned.
"For three years, children across Tennessee have benefited from the quality coverage provided through CoverKids," Gov. Bredesen said in a speech to members of the Tennessee Press Association. "In light of the state's budget situation, we had to make a tough decision to suspend enrollment last year.
"Fortunately, we've been able to dig deep and find additional funding to keep this option available to families in need."
Enrollment was suspended in the program in November when membership reached the cap of 45,000, the largest number the fiscal year 2009-10 budget can support, the administration said.
Hitting the cap was likely a result of the national economic downturn, officials said.
The governor's proposed 2010-11 budget includes an additional $13.1 million to continue the program.
In addition to the new state appropriation, an additional $41.5 million in accompanying federal funds will come to Tennessee, allowing for continued growth in children able to join CoverKids, the governor said.
Tony Garr of the Tennessee Health Care Campaign, an advocacy group, said the administration "always had the dollars to do it. They should never have closed it."
"Tennessee was the only state in the nation to close coverage for CoverKids," he said. "And it was appalling they did it."
Program administrators believe that as many as 5,000 more children qualify for CoverKids. The program provides comprehensive health and dental coverage to children in families who cannot afford or access private health insurance.