Oregon Public Broadcasting

Oregon's governor and the federal Secretary of Health and Human Services made a joint appearance at a Portland high school football field Tuesday. They want to get more  families signing their kids up for state-run health insurance programs. 

Standing in front of a few dozen high school athletes, Secretary Kathleen Sebelius applauded Oregon as one of seven states to join a Healthy Kids Sports Campaign. The effort focuses on getting kids who play sports health insurance.

Rob Manning / OPB

Cleveland High School football coach Gary Sletmoe speaks as Oregon's governor and the Secretary of Health and Human Services look on.

Kathleen Sebelius: "No child should have to miss activities. No child should have to miss school, no child is going to be a better student, if they're not healthy."

The focus is on high school athletes in part because Oregon school districts generally require insurance for kids who play competitive sports.

So, federal and state officials are leaning on coaches to steer athletes toward the state-run program.

Cleveland High football coach, Gary Sletmoe, says it's something he doesn't want his players to have to think  about.

Gary Sletmoe: "As coaches, we know, it's important – we rely on these athletes, they work very, very hard, they're very dedicated and committed, and we want to make sure that when they step on the field that they don't have to worry about their health."

Governor Ted Kulongoski argues the state's plan is less expensive, and more comprehensive than what private insurance offers.

Ted Kulongoski: "Insurance companies, yes, can provide short-term insurance options for the same purpose. These plans many times are very expensive, don't provide full benefits, and only cover students during the length of the athletic season."

Oregon's insurance covers children regardless of a family's income – though wealthier parents have to cover at least some of the cost.

Kulongoski says that adding children to the health insurance rolls won't add to the state's budget problems.

Ted Kulongoski: "It does not fall into the budget cycle. This is going forward."

Instead, he says, a dedicated tax on hospitals and the federal Medicaid program will carry the cost.

Secretary Sebelius argues insuring children won't necessarily add cost overall. 

That's because some of the costs associated with providing health care to the uninsured — like emergency room visits — would be mitigated.