How do I get affordable health insurance for my son?

I was in between jobs last year so I had to put my son on medicaid. As soon as I found a job I let them know but they kicked him off of it anyways. The problem I am having is that my insurance at work don't kick in until November and he has to have insurance by then for doctors appointments, etc. I tried to get MC+ for kids but they make it almost impossible to get. I just was wondering if anyone knew of a place where I can get affordable health insurance for my son?

A lot will depend on where you live because different states have different programs for children.

As long as your son is under the age of 18 then most states and even some counties will have some form of program that you will be able to look into.

If you make too much money to qualify for a government program then your best bet is probably individual health insurance for your son. As long as he is relatively healthy then it should be no problem at all finding a cheap plan.

Be sure that you shop around and compare quotes from at least 3-5 different reputable companies. Enlist the help of an independent health insurance agent or broker so that they can help you comparison shop. Here is some more information on finding affordable health insurance:

this is a very difficult question, there is no affordable health insurance but what you can do is search what insurances cover everything for the premium, such as dental, eyes, mental health and general health if your child suffers from a specific illness you should also check to see if they cover the treatment.

Please do check a website..but NOT a website that sells your name to multiple brokers. Try a local broker instead.

http://www.ohioquotes.com
http://www.majormedicalhealth.com

Youâ€™re in a bit of a pickle, frankly. What some of your other readers here seem to have overlooked is that you only need coverage for your son between now and November. Thatâ€™s only two months. You could apply for an individual health insurance plan for your son. Or, you could look into a short-term health insurance plan to cover him temporarily. But itâ€™s not immediately clear which makes more sense â€“ at least financially â€“ in your situation. And what makes sense could change, too, depending on your sonâ€™s health history or medical conditions, if he has any.

You may be able to find some moderately affordable health insurance plans for your son, but your options are going to vary a lot depending on where you live. Health insurance prices can be very different from one state to the next. Not every plan will automatically cover his checkups between now and November. Some will require that you pay for these visits out of pocket until you fulfill an annual deductible. So, while you might be able to find coverage this way, a really inexpensive plan may still cost you more than you are willing to pay. You could end up paying two monthly premiums for coverage and still paying for the full cost of each visit to the doctorâ€™s office on top of that. And then, of course, youâ€™ll be cancelling his coverage after two months anyway to get him covered on your employer health insurance plan.

A short-term plan might not be a bad idea, but there are some drawbacks. For example, a short-term plan is not going to cover prescription drugs, pre-existing medical conditions, or the regular checkups or office visits you have scheduled. But monthly premiums for short-term plans can be more affordable and these plans can still provide you with a temporary layer of financial protection in case of serious illness, injury or hospitalization.

I would recommend that you talk to a licensed agent who knows the health insurance market in your state. If youâ€™re curious about whatâ€™s available in your area, visit an online health insurance agency like eHealthInsurance.com (where I work) for free quotes on individual and short-term plans. You can apply for coverage online, too, but you should probably talk with one of our licensed agents first â€“ the number is 1-800-977-8860. If we canâ€™t help you find a good option, you may also want to check out coverageforall.org which provides state-by-state summaries of government-sponsored assistance programs for adults and children.

Best of luck,

Amir M, licensed agent

Ask around. A policy for a small healthy child should be reasonable. The problem is that there might be a penalty if you cancel in less than a year.

You can go to a local agent, and they'll know of plans in your area.

When I was insuring my own son out of pocket, it cost $187 a month, for a GREAT no deductible, BCBS plan.

What I'm trying to say is, "affordable" is relative. If you're looking for an all inclusive plan at $50 a month, it doesn't exist. You'll get lots of offers for "discount plans" which actually, don't pay ANYTHING, they just sell you a list. If you buy over the internet, you're much more likely to get scammed - with a fake policy, or a discount plan. So, use a local agent, in a real office.

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