Health insurance is vitally essential for your child. With health insurance, children receive preventive care, necessary immunizations, and proper treatment when they are sick. Children with health insurance are in turn more likely to stay healthy throughout their childhood, less likely to miss school, and perform better in school.
If you need health insurance for you child, it is best to subscribe to a family health insurance plan that offers health coverage for all of your family members. If family health insurance plan is out of your current financial reach, enrolling in the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) is the next best option. Understanding the importance of health insurance for children, the Congress passed a legislation in 1997, allowing states to provide health insurance to children in low-income working families that would not otherwise be able to afford or have access to health insurance. Each individual SCHIP is sponsored by both the federal and state government. Depending on the state of your residency, the SCHIP is either free or very inexpensive. In certain states, you may need to pay a premium or co-payment for your child's health insurance. Different states have varying eligibility requirements. In most states, uninsured children of ages 18 and younger, whose families earn $34,100 (per family of 4) or less a year, are eligible for the insurance. The insurance coverage is renewable for as long as your child meets the eligibility criteria established by your state. The SCHIP covers doctor visits, immunizations, prescription medicines, hospitalizations, and others. Most states also cover the cost of dental care, eye care, and medical equipment.
Most states have made the process of applying for SCHIP extremely easy. The application is usually short and straight-forward. Most states understand that it is difficult for parents in working families to get time off from work to fill out the application, so they have made it possible to either complete the application via mail or simple by answering questions over the phone. You do not need to disclose information about your immigration status or your Social Security number when applying for child health insurance. However, you will need to provide proof of your family's income and family expenses such as costs for childcare. You can call 1-877 KIDS NOW if your have additional concerns, need help with the application process, or would like to be directed to the Children's Health Insurance Program in your state.
