Did You Know...
The entire family is impacted by a special health care need. Supports and services exist to help each family member.
Asthma is the leading cause of school absences.
Each year, approximately 30,000 Americans are diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. More than 13,000 are children—35 children are diagnosed each day.
Children with special health care needs have three times the number of health care office visits than children who do not have special health care needs.
Nearly five million children in the United States have asthma.
12.8% of children nationally have a special health care need.
75% of children with special health care needs enrolled in CHIP through Highmark have more than one chronic condition.
18% of children with special health care needs miss 11 or more days of school each year due to illness.
The opportunity for ALL children to play with others helps maintain physical, emotional, psychological and social well being for us all.
20% of families with children with special health care needs experience financial problems due to the child's condition.
The Caring Program has provided help to more than 2,200 families since its inception in 2004.
The Caring Program is an innovative program of the Highmark Caring Foundation.
If you are enrolled in CHIP through Highmark, you can obtain help from a medically trained Health Coach at NO cost.
181,000 new cases of seizures and epilepsy are diagnosed each year.
1 out of 5 young adults with disabilities does not graduate.
70% of individuals with disabilities are unemployed.
Care Coordination services are available to all CHIP families enrolled in Highmark's 49-county service area.
Asthma is one of the most common chronic childhood illnesses.
Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) is the most common form of arthritis in children.
Medical service plans, called "504's", are available to address the needs of Children with Special Health Care Needs in schools.
Respite for younger family members with disabilities improves family stability, reduces the likelihood of divorce and reduces the chances of an out-of-home placement.