By Thomas Cazneau

California is ending Healthy Families. This is due to a budget deal between Governor Brown and Democratic lawmakers. It’s designed to cut health insurance costs and save other health programs. At the moment, there are about 900,000 kids in the Healthy Families program. It is expected that moving all of these children to Medi-Cal will save $72 million a year by 2015.

Moving to Medi-Cal could be a bit of an uncertain journey based on the changes that need to be made. Below is information regarding how Medi-Cal affects families now and how it could affect children in 2014, the year when the Affordable Care Act goes into full effect.

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Posted: April 19th, 2013 under Child Coverage, Health Care Reform, Health Insurance, Thomas Cazneau.
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By Esmer Mercado

“A penny saved is a penny earned,” the saying goes. Who doesn’t want to save as much money as possible during tight economic times like these? Everyone is familiar with couponing, discounts, sales, promotions and so forth. So I want to give you the scoop on what you need to know to get the cheapest health insurance premium when applying for a new child only policy in California. This would specifically relate to private health plans.
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Posted: November 14th, 2012 under Associate Blogs, California, Child Coverage, Esmeralda Mercado, Health Insurance, Kaiser Permanente.
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By Esmeralda Mercado

Child health insurance in Colorado is easier to apply for, at least, in the month of July. This month, parents can enroll their kids by themselves, during Colorado’s semi-annual open enrollment period. During the Colorado child-only open enrollment, a medical policy can be obtained for a child on an individual basis; the child does not have to have a qualifying event, such as a new birth, adoption, or loss of coverage, etc. Outside of July, Colorado child applications will be honored only when the child is included on a family application with at least one parent or legal guardian, or, on a child-only basis but only if there is a life event. Once the July open enrollment is over, the next open enrollment for child health insurance in Colorado will be in January 2013.
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Posted: July 13th, 2012 under Child Coverage, Colorado, Esmeralda Mercado.
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By Esmeralda Mercado

It’s time for Kaiser Permanente’s open enrollment for child-only plans in Colorado. Twice a year, Kaiser has an open enrollment period when applications for kids only will be accepted, even if there is no qualifying event.

Children under age 19 may apply for Kaiser Colorado individual health insurance in a variety of ways:
• On a family plan with at least one parent or a legal guardian,
• As a dependent on a group plan,
• On a plan by himself or herself, providing the child had a qualifying event within 30 days of the application date. Examples of a qualifying event are: loss of coverage, adoption, newborn, court order, etc.
Every January and July, there is a fourth option. During open enrollment, Kaiser Permanente will accept child-only applications whether or not there has been a qualifying event. Applications received in January will be effective March 1st; those received in July will be effective September 1st. During the open enrollment, rates will continue to be subject to adjustments, if applicable.
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Posted: January 6th, 2012 under Child Coverage, Colorado, Esmeralda Mercado.
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By Esmeralda Mercado

I have four grandchildren and a fifth on the way. We need health insurance! It has to be cheap and provide the best benefits. In helping my daughter find affordable child health insurance in California, I soon discovered the myriad of choices available. With the possible exception of one child, all the children are in excellent health, so we especially wanted to find a plan that would make sense price-wise, but also benefits-wise. Below are options I found for five children in California, who range in age from newborn to nine years old. Perhaps, this information will help you in your search. If you have found a plan that worked well for your kids, please share the information by commenting on this page!
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Posted: November 7th, 2011 under California, Child Coverage, Health Insurance, Kaiser Permanente.
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Back-to-school shopping is not quite in full bloom yet, but retailers are projecting an increase in back to school spending. As part of preparing your child for school, make sure their immunization records are up to par.

What is an immunization?
It is a preventive step that protects a child from getting a disease. They are administered through an injection or booster shot, or orally. Essentially, weak or dead organisms are introduced into the child’s system so that white blood cells can develop the ability to fight off the bacteria or virus. This way, if a child is exposed to the bacteria in the future, they are less likely to get sick. To view a video on how the process works, click How Do Vaccines Prevent Illness?

There’s been some controversy on whether or not immunizations are a good thing. To decide what’s best for your child, see Facts About Vaccines.
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Posted: July 15th, 2011 under Child Coverage, Health Insurance.
Comments: 3

Currently, a child under age 19 can obtain private health insurance through Kaiser Permanente by applying in one of two ways:
• Under a family application with at least one parent, or a legal guardian.
• On a single subscriber basis if there is a qualifying event.

During the month of August 2011, Kaiser Permanente will accept child-only applications even if there is no qualifying event. During this open enrollment period, child-only forms received in August will be approved for an October 1st effective date. If you are interested in enrolling your minor during the open enrollment, be sure to submit the application in August as it will be rejected if it is received before or after August, unless there is a qualifying event.
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Posted: June 24th, 2011 under Child Coverage, Colorado, Kaiser Permanente, Pre-existing Conditions.
Comments: 1

Due to the potentially high costs that often go along with health care for children under 19, some insurance companies have opted out of being a carrier for private health insurance for children. Carriers that are still in the market to provide child health insurance, do so with the ability to apply premium surcharges. Despite the potential for higher rates for individual child health plans, it is still one of the viable options available so that no child need be uninsured. Read more »

Posted: March 9th, 2011 under Child Coverage.
Comments: 2