In 2017, 3.9 million U.S. children didn’t have health insurance. Don’t let your kids become part of this statistic — instead, take this moment to learn how to choose the best insurance for kids.
We know it’s difficult to figure out which insurance plan is best for you, with your unique health issues and goals. It can be even harder to choose the right plan for your kids. But in this guide, we’ll make it easy to make the right choice for your family.
Keep reading to learn how to choose health insurance for kids!
Is Insurance for Kids Different?
You probably already know what health insurance for adults is used for. But do kids have different needs when it comes to health insurance?
The answer is both yes and no. Health insurance for kids does the same essential things as health insurance for adults. It helps cover costly medical expenses which could come up at any time due to illness or injury.
But, there are a few things that make choosing health insurance for kids a little different. First, kids need to see pediatricians — doctors who specialize in children’s healthcare. It’s important to find a pediatrician that both you and your child like, with an office you can reach easily.
Before choosing a health insurance plan, you should check that your current pediatrician is covered (if you have one already). If you don’t have one yet, you’ll want to make sure the plan has some pediatricians in your area you can choose between.
Second, keep in mind that kids tend to need healthcare services more often than adults do. They get sick more often — germs spread fast in schools and on playgrounds. Active kids might be more injury-prone, too.
This means that sometimes, it’s best to choose an insurance plan with a higher monthly fee because you won’t need to pay as much for every medical visit. The plans with lower monthly fees will have you paying more for those regular healthcare appointments.
Your Insurance for Kids Options
Just like with adult health insurance, you have different options to choose between when it comes to insurance for kids. Let’s go over your different options and which one may be right for your family.
1. Temporary Insurance
Short-term health insurance plans for children give you an affordable option for healthcare which lasts under a year.
This isn’t a long-term solution. But, it can help cover gaps in health insurance. If you know your existing coverage for your kids is going away, and you aren’t sure what your next step will be, this might be the right choice to get your family through.
For example, maybe you’re between jobs, and you usually insure your child with your employer’s plan. Or maybe you’re waiting to get accepted by a government plan (more on these options below).
Short-term plans go into effect immediately, so they’re a great choice when you’re waiting on slower options. But, you’ll need to make sure you qualify. Pre-existing conditions often affect coverage, so that can rule out this option. Plus, these plans don’t cover as much as standard insurance for kids does.
2. Children’s Insurance
Some types of insurance are specifically aimed at children alone, rather than just being plans you can add a child to.
You can find this type of plan on many health insurance sites. These plans exist mainly to help parents who don’t have employer-sponsored insurance plans they can add their children to. These plans cover all the health essentials and aren’t affected by pre-existing conditions.
You can find these plans on the Affordable Care Act marketplace, and on websites outside of the Marketplace. If your income meets certain requirements, you may qualify for a subsidy to help you pay for a children’s insurance plan.
But, if you have employer-sponsored insurance you could add your child to, you won’t qualify for a subsidy at any income level.
3. Dependent Insurance
If you already have an insurance plan, you can also add your child to the plan as a dependent.
As long as your child counts as a dependent on your taxes, they can also be a dependent on your health insurance. Employer plans usually offer coverage for dependents. You can also choose a family plan covering your dependent children.
Grandparents caring for dependent children can use Medicare to provide coverage. Which Medicare supplement plan is best? This depends on your unique needs, but there are enough options out there to cover every senior and their dependent children.
This option is usually easy, although divorce can make it a bit more complicated. Certain plans might make you pay more premiums to continue coverage after a divorce, but divorce shouldn’t disrupt coverage for your children in any other ways.
4. Government Insurance
The final common insurance kids option comes from the government.
First, there’s the Children’s Health Insurance Program or CHIP. This program covers families whose income levels don’t qualify them for Medicaid, but who still have a difficult time buying insurance for kids.
CHIP programs differ a little from state to state, as do Medicaid programs, the other government insurance for kids option. If your income falls below certain levels, you can use Medicaid health insurance for both yourself and your kids.
Even if you’re not a U.S. citizen, your children may be able to qualify for Medicaid, so don’t rule out this option if you have low income. Both Medicaid and CHIP make it far easier to get insurance for kids when you don’t have much money to spend.
Choosing the Best Health Insurance for Kids
Which insurance for kids option is right for you?
To make the best choice, take a look at your income levels, and which options are available to you. Employment status, pre-existing conditions, and other factors will rule out some options. Then, you can choose the plan which works best from the options you qualify for.
Your own health issues can also affect which kinds of insurance you qualify for and can add your children to. Getting healthy makes covering your whole family much simpler. Looking for ways to lose weight? Check out these weight loss apps to help you and your family stay in shape!
