It’s as if the state of Mississippi is trying to give away free health care … and no one is taking the offer.

In fact, that’s exactly what’s happening with the CHIP program.

The Children’s Health Insurance Program provides medical insurance to children in indigent families. The comprehensive plan is designed to benefit those people who cannot afford private insurance but who do not quality for Medicaid. Families with incomes up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level — or about $31,400 annually for a family of four — can apply for the benefits.

The offer is almost too good to be true … but so far only about 25,000 children have enrolled.

That’s a shockingly low rate, considering Mississippi’s perennial at-or-near-the-bottom rankings in studies evaluating child welfare across the nation.

In what seems a desperate measure this week, state health department employees are wearing buttons inviting parents and others to ask them about the CHIP program and its benefits. The hope is that by wearing the buttons, employees will stimulate interest in participation in the program.

But that’s not likely.

This program is a good one — and one that potentially can benefit thousands of young Mississippians — but it’s discouraging for state health department officials and others to see the lack of interest in participating in the program.

What must we do to encourage people to seek better care — a better quality of life — for their children?

At least this week, the effort is a simple as asking …