For a limited time, low-income parents without health insurance can enroll in the state's Primary Care Network (PCN), basic medical coverage for adults who earn too much to qualify for Medicaid but can't afford private insurance.

Open enrollment began Monday and will continue until all 4,000 available slots are filled.

To qualify as a parent, adults ages 19-64 must have a dependent child under age 19 living at home with them. Due to federal restrictions, certain PCN enrollment periods are open only to parents.

Enrollment is likely to be expanded to include all adults later this year, said health department spokeswoman Jennie Erickson.

Eligibility is based on a person's income. To qualify, a single parent with two children may earn up to $2,075 a month. More details and examples of income guidelines are available online at http://www.health.utah.gov/pcn.

PCN isn't free. Beneficiaries pay an annual premium ranging from $15 to $50, plus co-payments. Also, coverage is limited to mostly preventative care.

Dental care includes cleanings, tooth extractions, cavity fillings and exams. Screenings such as mammograms, Pap smears and cholesterol tests are also covered. PCN also offers emergency transportation, consultation with an emergency room doctor for serious medical emergencies, birth control methods, up to four prescriptions a month and immunizations.

Those who are shunned by private insurers because of a chronic condition often find PCN is the only affordable option. To manage diabetes, for example, the plan pays for insulin, syringes, lancets and test strips.

An experiment aimed at stretching Utah's Medicaid dollars, PCN was launched in 2002 under a federal waiver that is up for renewal in 2007.

Erickson encourages parents with uninsured children to also apply for the Children's Health Insurance Program. Parents can call 1-888-222-2542 for an application, or apply at http://www.health.utah.gov/pcn.