It isn’t easy to find affordable health insurance that covers children. Parents who live in Idaho might be able to find help with that through the Idaho Health Plan for Children. It is part of the state’s Medicaid program.
Medicaid is a public, or government run, form of health insurance coverage. In general, it is designed to cover individuals or families who are low-income, and who cannot afford to purchase a health insurance plan from a private company. In Idaho, there are several different parts to the Medicaid program. In addition to the Standard State Plan, and three different Benchmark benefit plans, there is also a CHIP program.
CHIP stands for Children’s Health Insurance Coverage. It is part of the Medicaid program, and therefore, is a public form of health insurance. In Idaho, it is called CHIP and the Idaho Health Plan for Children. Both names refer to the exact same plan. The purpose of this plan is to help low-income families to be able to keep their children healthy, by providing a way for the children to be able to visit a doctor and receive health care.
The eligibility guidelines for the Idaho Health Plan for Children are simple. A child must live in Idaho, and must be a United States citizen (or legal resident). The child must be under the age of 19.
There are also income guidelines that must be met by families who want their child to be covered by the Idaho Health Plan for Children. There is a chart that shows the 2011 monthly income limits. In general, a family’s income must be 185% of the federal poverty guidelines in order to have their children qualify for coverage. The official federal poverty guidelines are updated annually in February.
The Idaho Health Plan for Children covers well-child visits, doctor visits, prescriptions, vision, dental, immunizations, hospitalization, and more. Families that do not qualify for this plan, due to income guidelines, might be able to get premium assistance. There is the potential that your family could qualify for up to $100 per month to apply against your monthly premium for a private health insurance plan.
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