COLUMBUS — Gov. Ted Strickland on Tuesday, April 1, signed an executive order setting up a program that will make it easier for parents to buy coverage for an estimated 5,000 hard-to-insure children.

The Children's Buy-In Program is for children under 19 in families with incomes more than 300 percent of the federal poverty level — $63,600 for a family of four — if one of these conditions applies:

• Unable to obtain insurance because of a pre-existing condition.

• Lost insurance because of lifetime benefit limitation.

• Cost of only available insurance is more than twice the state premium for the Buy-In program.

• Child participates in the state Health Department's Program for Medically Handicapped Children.

Monthly premiums will range from $250 to $500, based on family income. The program is estimated to cost $10.1 million during two years, said Dennis Evans, spokesman for the Job and Family Services Department.

Coverage will start in June.

For more information or to apply, go to www.jfs.ohio.gov/ohp/cbi.

Ohio now provides coverage for all children in families with incomes up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level.

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