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 ‘Private Health Insurance’
Affordable Family Health Insurance For Children and Students
January 28th, 2010How to Get the Best Rates on Health Insurance in Montana
January 23rd, 2010
On average, each year in Montana over five hundred people die of lung cancer. It’s a serious disease which can strike anyone at any time. The difference between life and death can be determined by whether or not a person has adequate medical insurance in a case like this. Therefore finding the best rates on health insurance in Montana is very high on the priority list for most individuals that live in the state.
Many people in Montana have a distinct advantage when it comes to health insurance. A large number of employers in the state have group health insurance plans in place. Typically an employee only has to carry the burden of half the cost of the premiums, while their employer covers the remainder. If both partners in a household are offered group health insurance, they may be tempted to turn one down. It can actually be advantageous to have both because quite often if one plan doesn’t cover the entire cost of a procedure, medication or hospitalization, the other will.
If your employer doesn’t offer these benefits, you can still cut costs on private health insurance. One easy way to do this is by taking a co-payment. This means that you agree to cover a portion of the cost of some expenses. The expenses can range from hospital stays, to doctor visits to prescription medications. This is a good way to get a better rate on premiums if you know that you’ll be able to shoulder the extra cost during treatment.
Don’t settle for the first quote you receive for health insurance. Although shopping for insurance is usually not high on the list of enjoyable things to do, it is a necessity. Taking time to contact various insurers to ask about their coverage and to receive a quote can save a lot of money.
By: Deborah Mills
Can You Get Health Insurance with a Medical History In the UK?
January 16th, 2010
If you’re looking for a new credit card, your credit history plays a role in whether or not you’re accepted and what interest rate you pay. Health insurance is no different, though the history that is considered when you apply is the one that your doctor keeps.
Health insurance companies are protecting a risk and, like any insurance company, they try to keep the risk’s they insure as low as possible. So, the better your medical history is, the less likely they are to have to pay out a claim on your policy and the lower your premium will be.
Your medical history may also determine what type of private medical insurance you’ll be eligible to get. If you have diabetes, asthma or another chronic, incurable condition, for instance, most private insurers will exclude coverage for anything related to treatment. Some, taking into account the number of other conditions and illnesses for which those are a risk factor, will refuse to insure you at all. In general, that means that if you know you are ill, or that you’ll require medical treatment in the next six months because of a medical diagnosis, you may have trouble finding private health insurance to cover your needs.
There are many private health insurers who do not require a medical history, or only require a very basic one. In general, their policies will exclude coverage for any condition for which you have been treated in the past five years, or another specified period of time. If you remain free of symptoms and require no treatment for that condition for the specified period of time after you become insured, that condition may become eligible for cover again.
If your prospective insurer does ask for a medical history, you should always be truthful and declare everything you are aware of at the time. Any errors, omissions or outright lies in your application could negate your policy entirely. It’s better to have coverage for unrelated illnesses and conditions than to have no coverage at all.
So, should you bother with private medical insurance if you have a pre-existing chronic condition? Most experts would say yes. The NHS is designed to provide care and treatment for chronic conditions like asthma and diabetes. Your private medical insurance would still provide cover for you for illnesses, injuries and conditions that do not arise from your pre-existing chronic condition. In addition, if you have been treated for an illness in the past five years – ulcers, for instance – and have remained symptom free for five years, most policies will cover treatment for that condition if it recurs.
Interestingly, a number of UK private medical insurance providers do offer chronic conditions cover for UK expatriates. Most continental insurers do not exclude chronic conditions in their policies, and UK companies doing business overseas are beginning to follow suit. If you are seeking medical insurance for a period of time abroad, shop around to find one that will cover all of your needs during your time away.
To find out more about private medical insurance and which UK health insurance companies receive the best customer reviews, visit http://www.uk-insurance-index.co.uk/health-insurance-1.html.
By: Gareth Owen