Some United States statistics estimate one in five young children in the U.S. lives in poverty during the early formative years that are so important to their growth and development. Many children have little or no health care services. Recent studies indicate more than nine million children living in the U.S. are not covered by medical insurance. Many parents find themselves unable to afford the insurance needed to protect the mental and physical health of their children, even families who have good jobs.
Without medical and health insurance coverage Children can miss out on preventative services, early diagnosis and treatment of routine health and medical issues. Vaccines required for health, community safety, and school entry may be missed. Developmental delays, or learning disorders may go undetected.
Families who can’t afford health insurance may have options for providing their children with health coverage. The Children’s Health Insurance Program, or CHIP is a federal program developed in 1997 to assist parents earning too much to qualify for Medicaid but not enough to afford private health and medical insurance. In the CHIP program, children may have checkups, immunizations, prescriptions, vision care, and hospital care services. Each state manages its CHIP program their own way to find out how your state implements the CHIP Program you might want to visit Insure Kids Now.
Now, parents may have one less thing to worry about. Every state in the nation, has a health insurance program for infants, children and teens. The insurance is available to children in working families. Kids that don’t currently have health insurance are may be eligible, even if parents are working. Each state has different eligibility rules, but in most states, uninsured children 18 years old and younger, in a family of four earning up to $34,100 a year are eligible.
To learn more, visit the Insure Kids Now Website and click on Your State’s Program. Or call 1-877-KIDS-NOW for more information.
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