Subscribe to Health Beauty Cares

Monday, December 29, 2008

Parents Can Obtain Texas Health Insurance For Their Children

By Jordan FeRoss

Children generally visit their pediatrician than anyone else sees their doctor. This is often due to illness caused by a child not practicing good hygiene, such as hand washing, before putting their hands in their mouths. They become ill and spread germs and viruses very quickly. Medical bills can quickly become overwhelming for parents, especially if they do have health insurance in Texas. There are resources available for parents so that their children can be insured even if they cannot afford to do so without assistance.

There are multiple government programs that provide insurance to children if their families meet the eligibility guidelines. This option is most often available to families where the parents are unemployed or underemployed and for whom an employer-sponsored plan is not an option for health insurance in Texas.

The most popular and well-known federal insurance plan is known as Medicaid. The Medicaid plan works through the cooperation of the state and federal government. This plan provides health insurance in Texas for people who can't afford it, especially pregnant women and children. There is no charge to the recipient for this health care plan, but the requirements must be met in order to qualify.

Some of the requirements for persons to qualify for Medicaid health insurance in Texas include: being a resident of the state of Texas; a citizen of the United States or a permanent resident. When a child's parent is not a US citizen, but resides here legally, the child may still be qualified for Medicaid. The family's income, expenses and any medical problems are taken into consideration when qualifying them for Medicaid.

Because of the size and scope of the program, there is a dedicated state agency for handling applications for Medicaid health insurance in Texas. For some families with special circumstances, eligibility for Medicaid is automatic. However, most families on receiving Medicaid will need to regularly update their information and promptly report any changes to their status. Families must also agree to periodic evaluations by social workers to re-assess eligibility for Medicaid.

For those who may not qualify for Medicaid, there is another option for children's health insurance in Texas - the CHIP Program. CHIP or Children's Health Insurance Program is a government-funded program for families who exceed the Medicaid income requirements but cannot afford insurance through a traditional insurance plan. CHIP offers the same coverage and benefits as insurance from a private insurer.

With the CHIP health insurance in Texas participants pay fees that are based on their income. They may incur small co-pays for doctor visits prescription drugs. When using emergency hospital services with this health insurance in Texas, there may also be an additional co-pay. Applying for CHIP is also done through the local state agency office and the requirements are similar to those for Medicaid, except the income limit is higher. The participants have to be reevaluated, usually each year to determine continued eligibility for this type of program. Every child deserves to have appropriate health care to keep them safe and healthy and the Medicaid and CHIP programs are great ways to ensure that no child goes without health insurance in Texas.

About the Author:

No comments:

Post a Comment