Affordable Child Health Insurance Options

Affordable Child Health Insurance Options

Getting affordable child health insurance can be quite a challenge but it's got to be done. While the goal is to ensure that their children's needs are met, parents also have to be conscious of their financial constraints. Fortunately, finding health insurance for children does not have to be such a challenge if you know the possibilities.

The two main options are Medicaid and SCHIP (State Children's Health Insurance Program). Medicaid is geared toward low-income families, and insurance through SCHIP is available for those children who are uninsured, but whose parents earn too much money to qualify for Medicaid.

You start by first finding out if you qualify for Medicaid. Generally speaking, if your income is low, then you should apply for Medicaid services. Your case will then be reviewed to confirm eligibility. Medicaid covers pregnant women and their babies, children under 18 and in many states, children under 21.

For those children who do not qualify for Medicaid, SCHIP is a possibility. SCHIP is a federally funded program but each state sets its own eligibility criteria. States have a choice of using SCHIP by itself or combine it with Medicaid. It is best to contact your state's Department of Insurance (DOI) to help identify affordable child health insurance for your needs.

The insurance should cover all checkups, shots, sport physicals, eye and dental care and any injuries that may occur.

Sometimes, families with affordable child health insurance are disqualified even though they have some specialized health needs that are not covered in their current plan.

In the event, you do not qualify for your state programs, check if there are other income based coverage. Look beyond state run coverage at other companies that offer affordable child health insurance. Read all policy information to make sure that you have sufficient coverage.

In most states, if you qualify for a state free program, you cannot have another policy on a child or children.

At the beginning of every school year, most schools offer discounted healthcare policies. It will be worthwhile looking into if you do not have any other cover. There are variations offered from cover during normal school activities and only for the school year to that which include 24 hour, 365 days a year cover. The costs of course vary, but are still less expensive than private policies as it works very much like group health insurance.

It is important that the children's health insurance needs are met while managing within financial constraints. Even a minimal cover is better than none.