NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - One of the nation's largest food and drug retailers has agreed to help make parents aware that their children may qualify for low-cost or free healthcare coverage.

Boise, Idaho-based Albertson's Inc. is the latest corporation to partner with Covering Kids, a national program created to help states and communities boost enrollment in the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) and Medicaid. Last month, H&R Block, the tax preparation giant, agreed to promote the programs to low-income families.

Albertson's, through its 2,400 stores in 33 states, will distribute more than 200 million grocery bags emblazoned with the national 1(877) KIDS-NOW hotline, which parents can call to learn more about SCHIP and Medicaid eligibility in their state. It also will place public service announcements in store circulars.

Albertson's Chairman and CEO Larry Johnston said the chain strives "to be a good neighbor" in the communities it serves, and that's why it is "committed to getting the word out about these programs."

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the nation's largest healthcare philanthropy, launched Covering Kids in 1997, the year Congress created SCHIP to expand health insurance coverage for low-income, uninsured children. Yet many kids who meet eligibility guidelines still aren't getting enrolled.

More than 8 million children in America are uninsured, and most of them are eligible for SCHIP or Medicaid but not enrolled, according to Covering Kids.

Sarah Shuptrine, director of Covering Kids' national program office, says the partnership with Albertson's illustrates the critical role that business can play in reaching uninsured children.

"As parents shop for their groceries and fill prescriptions in store pharmacies, Albertson's will make important information about affordable healthcare coverage for children available to its customers. And we are grateful for that," she said.

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