Stephanie Markle wasn't trying to be difficult, but she wasn't about to accept an epidural to ease her labor pains until she knew how much it cost.

"I'm in delivery and all I'm thinking about is the bill," said Markle, a mother of four and foster parent who until recently did not have health insurance.

Paying out-of-pocket, she and her husband have been equally cost-conscious about taking their children to the doctor when they are sick or hurt.

More than 100,000 Ohio children without health insurance are eligible for tax-paid coverage but are not enrolled in the program. Until recently, Markle's youngsters were among them.

"I don't have to wait to take my children to the doctor. I don't have to come up with the fee my doctor charges, which is $100," Markle, 36, of Grandview Heights, said about having coverage.

As Congress considers funding the State Children's Health Insurance Program, local advocates are pushing parents to enroll more eligible children in the tax-funded program.

Ohio's program is open to children in families earning up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level, about $42,400 a year for a family of four.

To raise awareness, the Franklin County Covering Kids and Families Coalition is hosting a phone-a-thon today from 4 to 6:30 p.m. on WCMH-TV (Channel 4). During that time, families can call 614-821-4444 and specialists will help determine whether they are eligible and tell them how to enroll.

Similar events are being held today in Cincinnati, Dayton and Youngstown.

"In these tough economic times, it is even more important to get these children enrolled," said Sandy Erb-Wilson, state field director for Voices for Ohio's Children, a coalition member.

Franklin County Commissioner Marilyn Brown said an estimated 20,000 children in Franklin County are eligible but not enrolled in the Children's Health Insurance Program.

"It's much more cost-effective for a child to see their family doctor rather than going to the emergency room for a vaccination or when they become ill," Brown said.

Markle and her husband are self-employed and bought coverage until business slowed in 2007 and they could no longer afford it. The family paid out-of-pocket for care until July when they learned that they were eligible for tax-paid coverage. The insurance paid for the Christmas Eve birth of their son.

Markle said her 24-hour hospital stay was less stressful than earlier deliveries when she fretted about the need to be discharged minutes before another billing day began and other costs.

Gov. Ted Strickland, along with governors from other states, has asked President-elect Barack Obama and Congress to increase federal funding of the Children's Health Insurance Program. The federal government picks up 70 percent of program costs and states pay the rest.

Last month, Ohio received approval from federal regulators to expand its program to higher-income children, but the state's budget crisis has placed that plan on hold at least temporarily.

Strickland spokesman Keith Dailey said a decision will be made in the upcoming state budget about boosting eligibility to children in households earning up to 300 percent of the poverty level. That's $63,600 a year for a family of four.

ccandisky@dispatch.com