Child Health Insurance Cost

Low: $4-$15/month

Medium: $31+/month

High: $148+/month

Typical costs:

Free or low-cost health insurance is available through InsureKidsNow.gov. This insurance pays for doctor visits, prescription medicines, hospitalizations and more. Many programs include dental services as well. Eligibility rules vary by state, but in most locations coverage is available for otherwise uninsured children who are 18 years old or younger if their families earn less than $34,100 a year for a family of four. About two-thirds qualify for free insurance and the rest pay low premiums that vary by state. In California, the costs run $4-$15 a month per child, with a maximum of $45 a month for three or more.
eHealthInsurance.com provided quotes for the top 25 policies to insure a 10-year-old child in California, starting at $31 month for a PPO with a $1,500 deductible and 25 percent copay to $148 a month for a HMO with no deductible and $25 per office visit.

Shopping for child health insurance:

Find out about your state's program to give uninsured children free or low-cost health and dental insurance at InsureKidsNow.gov.
Get multiple quotes online from eHealthInsurance.com or HealthInsuranceFinders.com.
Check with your state insurance commissioner for registered health insurance companies in your area; get links to these state offices from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners along with a database of financial details and complaint histories for specific companies.
HealthInsurance.org provides a glossary explaining health insurance terms such as HMO and PPO.

Article updated November 2006

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