Tennessee’s health plan for uninsured children will soon expand to include vision and dental coverage.

CoverKids launched earlier this year with comprehensive medical benefits only, but Governor Phil Bredesen says he always intended to expand the package. He says the federal government approved a waiver this week that will allow the state to add comprehensive dental and vision coverage.

The new benefits will go into effect by the end of the year.

In the meantime, Bredesen says the main challenge for CoverKids is increasing enrollment.

“It’s one of these frustrating things, you know-all the agonies we went through with Tenncare; this is a very comprehensive, completely free program for the most deserving people in Tennessee, the children, and you know, we’re having trouble getting enough kids signed up for it. But I think that will continue to improve in the months ahead.”

So far, only 12-thousand children are enrolled in CoverKids, a fraction of the state’s estimated 127-thousand uninsured youth. Enrollment is open to families making less than 50-thousand dollars per year for a family of four who do not qualify for Medicaid.

Jacqueline Fellows also contributed to this report