(Rockville Centre, NY) - The residents in communities served by Mercy Medical Center will have the opportunity to apply for free or low cost health insurance for children, families and adults up to age 64 on Thursday, November 2, 2006 and the first Thursday of every month thereafter from 5 - 7 PM in Mercy's Main Lobby. (Nov. 2nd, Dec 7th, Jan. 4th). Staff from Catholic Charities will be at Mercy Medical Center to assist you and your children in applying for the Child Health Plus, Family Health Plus and Medicaid Health Insurance Programs:

Bi-lingual enrollers from Catholic Charities of Long Island will screen adults for income eligibility for the state's health insurance program Family Health Plus. Children are eligible for Child Health Plus. These health insurance programs cover medical check-ups, hospitalization, emergency care, prescriptions, vision, and dental care.

The Nassau-Suffolk Hospital Council (NSHC), the association that represents Long Island's not-for-profit and public hospitals, coordinates the enrollment process and oversees the program in this region on behalf of the state health department. Since 1999, the NSHC has helped thousands of Long Islanders obtain free or low cost health insurance.

For more information about the Mercy Medical Center enrollment, call Catholic Charities at 631-789-2839 or the Nassau Suffolk Hospital Council at 631-435-3000.

About Mercy Medical Center
Mercy Medical Center is a 387-bed, not-for-profit medical center and level II trauma center serving the healthcare needs of the residents of Nassau County and the surrounding area. Mercy is best known for the specialties of maternal health, oncology, physical medicine and rehabilitation, orthopedics, and behavioral health services, and is the regional home of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Mercy Medical Center is a member of Catholic Health Services of Long Island.

For immediate release, contact: Mel Granick
Phone: 516-705-2618
E-Mail: mel.granick@chsli.org