BUFFALO, N.Y. (Monday, May 10, 2004) - Almost 44 million Americans currently have no health insurance; 8.5 million of the uninsured are children. Additionally, 8 out of 10 uninsured Americans are in working families. Rising health care costs continue to prevent individuals, businesses and state governments from purchasing basic health insurance. Cover the Uninsured Week seeks to raise the awareness of the scope of this problem and to influence national and local policymakers to work toward reversing this alarming trend.

Kaleida Health will spearhead a local program in three sites: Buffalo General Hospital, Women and Children's Hospital of Buffalo and Millard Fillmore Gates Circle Hospital. Targeting eligible employees, Kaleida Health's facilitated enrollment team will partner with the Black Leadership Forum Near East Side Community Health Task Force, Promises Beauty Salon and Chelle's Hair Performance to offer a unique opportunity for eligible employees to enroll in a health insurance plan and to receive a free hair trim, beauty consultation or make-up enhancement. A secondary goal is for Kaleida employees to take this information into the community.

Facilitated enrollers and beauticians will be available from 11am-1pm on Monday at Buffalo General Hospital, Tuesday at Millard Fillmore Gates Circle and Wednesday at Women and Children's Hospital of Buffalo. Then, on Thursday and Friday, Kaleida Health's facilitated enrollers will visit Promises Beauty Salon and Chelle's Hair Performance in an effort to reach out to members of our community who do not currently have health insurance and to enroll them in the plan that meets their needs.

This initiative is the result of a year long partnership with eight beauty salons and barber shops on Buffalo's Near East side. The partners are committed to eliminating health disparities by providing information to the community in innovative and practical ways.