Family Health Insurance Plans
Finding the right health insurance usually boils down to affordability. This is true, especially, when you're looking for coverage for a family. Kaiser Permanente offers many low cost family health insurance plans. You'll have the option of getting a private medical insurance plan, or if you are self-employed/own a business, you may quality for group health insurance coverage. Use the form on the right to get instant online family health insurance quotes.
Affordable Health Insurance for Families
The rates on family health insurance quotes are affected by age and location, or in the case of business insurance, where location of the workplace. In some states, the price is also affected by the person's medical status and if they have had prior insurance or not.
Private family health insurance plans usually cost less than group plans, except for families with two or more children or families with newborns. Then, a business plan could be cheaper. For coverage options on children, click Child Health Insurance.
Medical Insurance Coverage Eligibility
To qualify for private family health insurance coverage, you would need to pass medical underwriting. You're not required to have a physical exam, but you would need to complete an application that includes your health history. Underwriting will either approve you for the plan you selected, decline the application, or approve you for a different plan that has a high deductible or one without prescription benefits. If not all family members are approved, you have the option of declining the insurance for the whole family or enrolling only the qualified persons. Note that in some states, families must submit health insurance applications separately for each person in the family and they will be covered on an individual basis. For example, Kaiser Permanente in California will insure families, but on a per person basis. In this case, each family member will need to apply separately and be covered on a Kaiser Permanente individual plan.
You may be able to get family health insurance coverage through the business you work for or the business you own. If you work for a company that you do not own, check with the Human Resources Department regarding their medical coverage offerings. Find out what percentage or dollar amount the company will contribute towards employee plans.
If you are self-employed or own your own business, your company may qualify for group health insurance coverage. For business plans, at least two adults need to work at the company. A husband and wife can meet the two-people rule, subject to the necessary paperwork. A group plan is ideal for people with a serious pre-existing condition. If you have had trouble passing medical underwriting for a private plan and you are eligible for a company health plan, consider applying under your business. You can't be denied for medical reasons. Those looking for family health insurance coverage which will include two or more children or a newborn usually find that rates for group health benefits are cheaper than rates for private health plans.
Who is considered a family member?
In states where family health insurance is offered, qualified family members include husband, wife, and/or children under age 26. Children can be single or married and live at home or away from home as long as they are ages 0 to 25. After the 26th birthday, adult children will need to be taken off the family medical plan and be put on their own plan. In some states, domestic partners may apply together.
Choosing a Family Health Insurance Plan
When applying for family health insurance benefits, you may not want the same plan for each family member. Often family members do not share the same medical history, so it may be a good idea to look at each family member's needs on an individualized basis. Then, decide which family members need the richer benefits and which ones would be fine with cheaper coverage. You can base this on the person's health background and how often they tend to visit the doctor. Also, consider the type of events that you most want to have coverage for and the types of services each person might need. For example, if you have a teenage son who plays football, then you may want a family health insurance plan that covers doctor visits right away in case there is a sprain or a broken bone. Or, you may want to put this child on his own plan.
It may be pretty difficult finding a plan that is perfect for everyone and still fits the budget. So, if choosing a one-size-fits-all family medical insurance plan starts becoming difficult, you may want to put some family members on different plans.
