| In order to deal with a growing problem of children | | | | In the case of students the majority of colleges and |
| living in the United States without health insurance | | | | universities operate their own health care clinics for |
| some 10 years ago Congress passed a plan entitled | | | | the treatment of routine ailments such as colds, sore |
| Title XXI, or the State Children's Health Insurance | | | | throats and minor sports injuries. Nevertheless, you |
| Program [SCHIP]. Under this state plan families whose | | | | should take out some form of medical health |
| income is insufficient to afford private medical health | | | | insurance to cover unexpected medical problems |
| insurance and too high to apply for Medicaid can | | | | including more serious illnesses and surgery. |
| receive medical care for their children by paying a | | | | Wherever possible, you should look to cover children |
| maximum of 5% of their gross annual income or, in | | | | under your own individual or family plan and most |
| many cases, by paying nothing at all. | | | | plans will cover children even when they are away at |
| Title XXI lays down minimum standards which must | | | | school. There may however be some restrictions |
| be met by each state, such as the provision of | | | | imposed under these circumstances and you should |
| well-baby and well-child physical examinations, | | | | read through the details of your plan carefully. |
| immunization programs and emergency services, but | | | | Should your children need individual medical health |
| states are also given considerably freedom under | | | | insurance plans to cover them at college, then there |
| Title XXI and programs vary from state to state. | | | | are several insurance companies that cater specifically |
| It should be noted that this plan is designed to | | | | to the needs of students. This is an area which you |
| provide cover for children who do not have any form | | | | should research carefully however to ensure your |
| of medical insurance cover and that children who are | | | | children are getting the cover they need. |
| already covered under a health insurance policy | | | | Whatever else you do, you should not assume that |
| cannot also receive cover under the provisions of this | | | | the government will take responsibility for the care |
| plan. | | | | of your children at home and that colleges and |
| Where children are not eligible for cover under this | | | | universities will do the same once they become |
| state plan and are ineligible for Medicare you will need | | | | students. As parents, the responsibility for providing |
| to consider covering them under a private family plan | | | | healthcare for your children falls squarely on your |
| or on their own individual plan. In this case it will | | | | shoulders. |
| normally, but not always, be cost-effective to | | | | provides information on all aspects of medical health |
| provide cover under a family plan although, if you are | | | | insurance including individual and family health |
| looking to cover only one child, an individual plan for | | | | insurance plans, health insurance for pre-existing |
| that child may prove the best option. | | | | conditions and much more. |