Bell Atlantic to Assist in Outreach To Uninsured Children

Bell Atlantic to Assist in Outreach To Uninsured Children

President Clinton announced plans today

February 18, 1998

WASHINGTON - President William J. Clinton announced today that
Bell
Atlantic will take a "leadership role" in establishing a
nationwide
toll-free number for parents of the nation's 10 million children
without health insurance.

The President cited Bell Atlantic during remarks at Children's Hospital
in Washington as he spoke about the Children's Health Insurance Program
(CHIP) -- the largest expansion of children's health insurance in 30
years. CHIP provides funds for coverage of working families' uninsured
children. These families typically have too much income to qualify for
Medicaid but too little to afford health insurance.

"Bell Atlantic has committed to working with the appropriate
information technology providers and the Department of Health and
Human Services to make it easier for parents nationwide to enroll
eligible, uninsured children," said Barbara L. Connor, president
for
federal systems at Bell Atlantic.

Educating families about their options and enrolling them in Medicaid
are priorities.

"The toll-free number will reach out to some three million children

who are not insured, but who could be under Medicaid insurance
today,"
Connor said. "Bell Atlantic is pleased to do our part in making
that
education process easier."

Bell Atlantic - formed through
the merger of Bell Atlantic and NYNEX -
is at the forefront of the new communications and information
industry. With 40.5 million telephone access lines and six million
wireless customers worldwide, Bell Atlantic companies are premier
providers of advanced wireline voice and data services, market leaders
in wireless services and the world's largest publishers of directory
information. Bell Atlantic companies are also among the world's
largest investors in high-growth global communications markets, with
operations and investments in 21 countries.

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