How to Get Affordable Child Health Insurance in California

More than one million children in California do not have health insurance. That means these children may be lacking basic well-baby care, vaccinations, and dental care, not to mention necessary care during an illness. Here are the options that are available for affordable child health insurance in California.

Employer Insurance

Most Californians receive health insurance through their employers. This is the most economical form of insurance, as the employer usually pays part of the premium. However, small companies may not be able to offer affordable insurance to their employees.

Government Assistance

The California state government offers several programs to help families afford health insurance for their children:

* Medi-Cal is a public health insurance program for low-income children and families. It provides free comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage.

* The Healthy Families Program provides low-cost health, dental, and vision coverage to children whose families do not qualify for Medi-Cal but cannot afford other health insurance.

* Some local coalitions offer health insurance programs to families that do not qualify for either of these programs.

For more information on these state-sponsored programs visit the California Department of Insurance at: insurance.ca.gov.

Private Insurance

While private insurance is the most expensive form of health insurance, it's the choice for over 600,000 Californians and may be your best choice. With private health insurance you have many options to choose from, including HMOs, PPOs, and traditional comprehensive insurance.

by Brian Stevens