State Health Insurance Plans Explained
It use to be a standard occurrence to get healthcare insurance as a benefit with any full time job. Today, getting health insurance with a job is hit or miss at best, and some people have huge deductibles that they have to pay before that insurance kicks in. Getting insurance on your own is an option, but some individuals and families simply can not afford to pay the premiums. Health insurance is important and no one, especially a child, should live without it. If you don't have any, you can't pay for any on your own, or you don't think yours will ever help you, see about state health insurance plans through your state government.
All states are different, but you can inquire about state health insurance plans by visiting your state government official website. These often have a section about healthcare, public services, or state run programs of all types. You should be able to find what you need there. Some states have different levels of what they offer and some just have one program. You are going to have to qualify, and some of it will cost you money, but that depends on how much you make. Overall, if you qualify because of your income, your fee each month for this type of insurance is not going to be that much if anything at all.
Families that qualify for state heath insurance plans usually have working parents. Though there are some welfare programs, these are harder and harder to get if no one is working or attempting to work. You will be asked about your total household income and the amount of people in your home. All of these programs have criteria for who qualifies and who does not. Be honest on your application because not doing so is considered fraud and that can land you in deep water if you are caught.
Some people in certain circumstances can get state health insurance plans automatically. This is because there is no way that they can be covered any other way. For example, if you are caring for a niece or nephew due to the death of their parents, or one of their parents, and you can not adopt them, the state will usually step in and give you insurance for them. It can be hard for these families to care for a child without the benefit of adoption because their health insurance usually will not cover them without it. The state can and usually will step in to help as long as you do what they ask.
There are always rules and regulations in regards to state health insurance plans. You have to make sure your payments are on time, if you have any, and that you follow up when they ask for more information. At times, they want you to reapply each year to make sure that the family or child still qualifies for the program. They also want to make sure the system is not abused and your cooperation means you won't lose your insurance. Something as simple as a mislabeled letter can mean cancellation, so if something does not arrive that should, put a call in to let them know. This insurance is usually pretty good, so don't blow it by ignoring minor details.
Resources:
Health insurance programs - This is an example of what to expect on sites like this one from the New York State Dept. of Health
