Monday, December 29, 2008

Parents Can Get Texas Health Insurance For Their Children

By Jordan FeRoss

Children in Texas seem to be more prone to visits to the doctor and getting medical treatment than any other group of people. As with adults, going to the doctor can get costly, especially if you don't have the money to pay for it. However, there are other solutions to get health insurance in Texas for your children.

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.

In order for a child (or children) to qualify for this government funded health insurance program, they must reside in the state of Texas; be a citizen of the United States or permanent resident. Even if the parent or guardian is not a citizen, but they are here legally, the child can still be eligible for this free health insurance. They should also be 19 years old or younger. There is also an income guideline that the family has to meet. If they are at or below that guideline, then the child would qualify for Medicaid. If you have a vehicle, that may be included in the evaluation of whether or not the child is eligible for Medicaid.

Texas has a specific agency that handles qualifying people for Medicaid health insurance in Texas. Some families automatically get Medicaid, depending on their circumstances. Usually, a family will have to update their records regularly, reporting any changes in income or circumstances to their social worker and undergo period reevaluations of their 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.

Fees are charged according to income. There are co-payments for seeing the doctor, and for prescription services. In addition to that, if you have this health insurance in Texas, emergency services also require a co-payment. In order to keep the health insurance coverage, it has to be renewed every year. Requirements for this health insurance are very similar to the ones for Medicaid, except they base it on a scale for working parents. The state agency is responsible for letting you know whether or not you qualify for this insurance. This is good for those who can afford to pay something, but not much more like you would with private insurance from your employer.

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