Governor Phil Bredesen has announced that CoverKids, Tennessee’s health insurance program for uninsured children, is providing dental benefits to program members and giving families an easier way to enroll with an online application.

"The dental benefit is an important addition to CoverKids preventative health services,” Bredesen said. “It makes CoverKids even more beneficial for the families who rely on the program and the online application should help even more families enroll.”

There are no deductibles for any dental services and CoverKids annual maximum for dental benefits is $600 per child per year. CoverKids members automatically receive the dental benefit, which is available to all new members joining the program.

CoverKids began offering members vision benefits in January 2008, in its first expansion of benefits to members. The vision benefit covers annual vision exams, glaucoma testing, eyeglass lenses or contact lenses once every 12 months and routine replacement of eyeglass frames once every 24 months.

Parents interested in signing their children up for CoverKids through the programs online application, can go to www.CoverTN.gov and click the “CoverKids Apply Now” button. For more information on CoverKids or any of the Cover Tennessee programs, visit www.CoverTN.gov or call 1-866-COVERTN.