These are tough times, and one of the harsh realities is that a lot of folks are facing life without good medical insurance. Regardless of what the politicians may or may not do in the name of health care reform, you need to make sure that your kids are covered when illness or disaster strikes. Fortunately, there are already programs in place that can help to provide medical insurance for your kids.

Medicaid and SCHIP

The Medicaid program is funded by the federal government and administered by the states. The rules will vary from one state to the next, but for the most part if your family of four makes less than $44,500 a year, you’re considered eligible for the program.

Medicaid will cover a great deal of medical expenses for your kids. Typically, it will cover doctor visits, dentist visits, medication and even hospitalization. It provides health insurance, usually in a PPO-style program. You might be somewhat limited in your choice of doctors, as not all practices will take Medicaid.

To find out more about Medicaid for your kids, you can call the federal hotline at 1-877-KIDS-NOW (1-877-543-7669). Alternatively, you can contact your state’s Human Services department and talk to someone there.

State Programs

Various states also offer programs to help provide medical insurance for children whose parents make too much to qualify them for Medicaid, but who don’t have insurance through work or through another means. These programs can vary greatly, but you should also be able to get information on these from your state’s Human Services department.

In Michigan, to take one example, there is the “MIChild” program. This program provides medical insurance for children, but at  a cost. The cost of the program depends on the family’s income level. A child can be insured in this program, usually, for less than about $25 per month. This program, in contrast to Medicaid programs, uses more of an HMO style plan where you can take the insurance to any doctor. Of course, in-network doctors will have a smaller co-pay and deductible, but at least it gives you the options.

Other Options

You may be able to get help covering medical costs for your kids in other ways, too. Some areas have hospitals that provide discounted services or services on a sliding scale, based on your income. There are also free clinics in some areas, which may be an option if everything else fails.

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