Free or low-cost public health insurance in Calhoun Co.

CALHOUN COUNTY, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - The push to insure everyone gets a boost in Calhoun County starting on Friday.

From one to four Friday, at the Toeller Building in Battle Creek, those without health insurance can enroll in free or low-cost public health insurance programs. It's part of a non-profit initiative meant to provide access to health care for at least half of the community's uninsured children this year.

Jim Pearl, the director of Call 211 says that "this means that they have some type of insurance, that they don't have to worry about how am I going to pay for this doctor's visit. That everyone has as much access as possible."

Right now, in Calhoun County alone, more than 20,000 are without health insurance, at least 6,000 of them are children.

In order to sign up for the program on Friday you will need:

A government issued picture ID.

Proof that you live in Calhoun County, that could include any bill with your name and address on it, a recent check stub, social security award letter, last year's tax return and bank statements.

If you're looking for prescription assistance, you'll need a list of current medications from your doctor.