Health insurance is a complex area and it’s very easy to overlook the special needs of children and students. Finding an affordable health insurance plan that fits your needs is not always easy but, with some guidance, it is possible.
Nearly 10 years ago now Congress passed a plan entitled Title XXI, or the State Children’s Health Insurance Program [SCHIP]. This plan was aimed at dealing with the growing number of children in the United States living without any form of health insurance. Unfortunately, for many families, their income is not sufficient to afford private health insurance but is too high to apply for Medicaid. Under this state plan however the family is charged a maximum of 5% of their gross annual income and, in many cases, can receive medical treatment at no cost at all.
The cover provided under this program varies from state to state, but all states must provide a minimum of cover including such things as well-baby and well-child physicals, immunization and emergency services.
One thing to note is that, if your child is already covered under a health insurance policy, then he or she will not be eligible for the state coverage.
If your children are not eligible for medical care under the state plan then you will need to consider whether they should be covered under a family policy or on their own individual policies. As a general rule, it will normally be more cost-effective to have a family policy although, if you have only one child, an individual policy for that child may prove to be more cost-effective.
When it comes to student health insurance most colleges and universities have their own health care clinic for treating routine ailments such as colds, sore throats and minor sports injuries. However, all students should have some form of health insurance cover for unexpected medical problems including more complex illnesses and surgery.
If possible, you should try to have your children covered on your own individual or family policy and most policies will cover children even when they are away at school. Some policies may however place certain restrictions on coverage and these should be checked carefully.
If you find that your children need their own individual health insurance policies whilst away at college, then there are a number of insurance companies that cater specifically to the needs of students. You should however research this area carefully and make certain that the cover being provided meets your needs.
It is all too easy to assume that the government will take care of the health needs of children and that colleges and universities will likewise take care of their students. Unfortunately, this is not the case and, as parents, it falls to us to ensure that our children get the health care that they need.
By: Donald Saunders
Posts Tagged ‘Own Health Care’
Affordable Family Health Insurance For Children and Students
January 28th, 2010The Newbie’s Guide To PPO Health Insurance; Part 1
January 25th, 2010
A PPO or Preferred Provider Organization is a segment of health insurance that can be provided by an accredited health insurance company or provider. If you’re already familiar with an HMO or Health maintenance Organization then you have a good start in regards to what a Preferred Provider Organization actually is and can provide to a consumer seeking health insurance. The reason for this is because the Preferred Provider Organization is very similar to an HMO based on the fact that they have contractual agreements with many of the health insurance companies. The biggest difference is based on the fact that the Preferred Provider Organization doesn’t have as many limitations or restrictions when compared to the traditional HMO. Generally speaking this favors the consumer or individual seeking health insurance coverage through a provider’s health plan.
The advantage that a Preferred Provider Organization offers its clients is the ability for them to freely choose their own health care doctor or physician. This is particularly beneficial for an older person that has seen a regular doctor for many years. Naturally a bond of familiarity and trust builds up between a doctor and long time patient allowing for a comfortable feeling to take place during a routine medical appointment. The PPO allows this professional relationship to continue to exist ensuring better medical treatment. However, while the opportunity to seek medical care from the family physician or local doctor sounds nice it does usually mean that a higher out-of-pocket cost will be incurred by the individual consumer, although a referral isn’t normally needed to see a medical specialist.
As you can expect HMO’s are usually much cheaper due to the restrictions they place on who an insured patient can see and how they go about obtaining a referral to a health specialist for additional medical treatment. The PPO does offer more control over the providing of an individual’s health care needs so in this instance your health as opposed to money may be the final determining factor in regards to which health care plan you choose to apply for.
The Preferred Provider Organization’s main goal has been to provider health insurance coverage to large groups at a lower then normal rate or premium. They have been extremely successful at this endeavor by providing better information to the PPO network of doctors and by providing cheaper rates for medical insurance. In fact they were so successful that the PPO was the main driving force behind a dramatic drop in medical expenses throughout the last decade.
Based on the complex nature of the current health care system any plan, such as the Preferred Provider Organization, is a welcome sign of relief for many consumers needing and wanting adequate health insurance coverage at a very reasonable and affordable price.
By: Sharlene Raven