Online Health Insurance News

As we enter the second quarter of 2009, there are still too many children in America that have no health insurance coverage. Why is that? Whether the number is one or 9 million and one, like it was back in 2003, there are still far too many children suffering without health insurance in American cities and towns.

This means that there are still too many low-income families that don’t have enough residual income to afford insurance through America’s health insurance providers. This also means that there are currently not enough openings, even with the current boost in health insurance funds, CHIPRA program, at the White House to prevent children under the age of 19 from suffering.

The expansion of this program allowed states to increase their coverage for children, and because New York and New Jersey had already increased state funding for children of families in poverty, they had additional funding to capped allotments in the CHIP program; thereby further lowering the number of uninsured children in their states. Way to go!

Despite Medicaid coverage, which is readily available, nearly one-quarter of all children still remain under or uninsured and the majority of them are adolescent, live in families with one parent working, but the reality is uninsured depends on ethnic background, race, age, and income. White and African-American children are more likely to be insured than Asian or Hispanic children are, due to these children having no or low access to private health insurance providers or Medicaid.

Medicaid is the equivalent of a critical-care trauma unit in a hospital. It is the safety net for millions of children from low-income families. Medicaid makes sure that children can visit the hospital, see the doctor, and have vision and dental checkups and care. Medicaid coverage for children is now supplemented by the CHIP program, which targets low-income, uninsured children under 19 that do not qualify for Medicaid.

Although most states have reached out to ensure that there is an easy enrollment process, as well as improved eligibility for all children, too many children remain uninsured, which begs the question…Why?

Maybe the answer is better communication and further education. Maybe we, as responsible citizens are obligated to get the word out there to low-income families, so that their children are not falling through the cracks, due to parental lack of knowledge about what programs are out there, and whom they support. We all have a responsibility to see that today’s children are covered for health insurance; after all, they are our future for tomorrow.

Every state has a program with its own eligibility rules, but most states insure that children 18 or younger with families that earn less than $44,500.00 a year, with four in the family, qualify for low-cost or free health insurance. Every state has many health insurance providers and even if the family has been turned down before, they are wise to reapply, especially with the new rules and regulations in place.

So, if you are low-income and have uninsured children, or know someone that does, please spread the word. Children now qualify for insurance more than ever before!

To learn more about registering your children for insurance, and to obtain assistance to fill out the application forms, please call 1-800-698-4KIDS. The good folks who run this service will be happy to help you find out information about your state, as well as eligibility requirements, and they will help you fill out your application.

Or, you could visit the following websites to find out more:

www.nyhealthinsurer.com www.nychealthplan.com