Arizona has a thriving and competitive private health insurance market, with coverage for families widely available via workplace group insurance and individually owned family plans. Options are more limited, however, for families who cannot afford private health insurance coverage for their children. To obtain coverage for your child, you need to understand the rules of each program.
Stand-Alone Private Insurance for Children Only
Until recently, it was relatively simple to purchase a stand-alone health insurance policy for a child without having to insure a parent or guardian. However, these policies have all but vanished from the market with the passage in 2010 of the Affordable Care Act, which, among its provisions, prohibits insurers from declining applications to cover children on the basis of pre-existing conditions.
Arizona Children's Health Insurance Program
Arizona KidsCare, the federally subsidized Children's Health Insurance Program, is not currently taking new applicants. This is because the Arizona state legislature voted to cease providing new benefits to children due to severe budgetary issues. You may apply, and if you qualify, your child will be placed on a waiting list for when the program is funded again. Meanwhile, the state will examine your application to see if your child may qualify for the AHCCCS, or Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, program which administers Medicaid programs in Arizona.
Medicaid
Medicaid is the federally subsidized, state-administered program to provide basic health services to the poor and indigent. Your child may qualify if your family meets strict income limitations. To insure a child under the age of 1, you may not have an income over $1,264 per month. For children age 1 through 5, that limit is $1,201. The limit is $903 per month for all other children.
Private Coverage
For most individuals, the best solution to provide health insurance for children is through privately owned insurance, either through a workplace plan or one you purchase yourself. Workplace plans have the advantage of guaranteed underwriting, meaning that all applicants who meet the qualification criteria are approved. The company or employer cannot pick and choose who gets covered and who does not. Employers also typically pay a portion the premium for health insurance. You can also get a plan you own yourself outside of work. These aren't subsidized, and you and your family do have to qualify medically. However, there is more flexibility on benefits and plan design than you get from a workplace plan. You also get to take your plan with you if you lose your job.
Tags: health insurance, Arizona Health, child qualify, Children Health, Children Health Insurance, children through, federally subsidized
