Childhood immunizations are covered by all Illinois health insurance policies.
Regular medical care is necessary to keep children in good health. This means abiding by the childhood vaccine schedule put forth by the CDC, as well as attending regular health check-ups and screenings. Without health insurance, all of these medical services can become costly over time. The State of Illinois makes health insurance easily accessible and affordable for parents of children without coverage.
Government-Sponsored Programs
According to the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services, Illinois was the first state in the nation to guarantee access to affordable health care for all uninsured children. The state offers the Kid Care program for children of low-income families. Kid Care provides Medicaid benefits to children at no cost to their families. For applicants with incomes too high to qualify for Kid Care, the Illinois All Kids Program extends health benefits at monthly premiums that correlate to the parents' incomes. For example, middle-class families making less than $60,000 per year pay only $40 per month for each child enrolled in the program.
The Affordable Care Act
In 2010, Congress passed The Affordable Care Act, in which insurance companies are required to cover children, regardless of pre-existing conditions. Insurance companies in all states, including Illinois, are required to abide by this law. Additionally, insurance coverage cannot be discontinued by the provider due to sickness and, starting in 2014, insurance companies cannot impose lifetime or annual limits on any policy. Once the law reaches full maturation in 2014, all United States citizens, including children, must have health coverage or else face a yearly financial penalty.
Coverage
All health insurance plans, including government options, must provide free preventive care benefits. This means that medical visits for such services must not incur any charges to an insured patient, such as a co-pay or deductible, and that the health insurance provider must pay all fees associated with qualifying preventive care. For children, eligible health services include routine immunizations, regular health check-ups and hearing screenings.
Health Insurance Sources
Children can acquire health insurance in one of several ways. In Illinois, more than 250,000 children are uninsured. Parents of those children can find health insurance by enrolling in employer-based, government-based or private health plans. Many employers offer discounted health insurance to their employees. Employees can add additional family members to their health insurance policies at a reduced premium. Occasionally, an employer will offer to pay the health insurance premiums for the entire family as an added benefit. Private insurance is also available, though usually more expensive than government and employer options. However, choosing a private insurance plan allows customers to customize a benefits package and premium that works for them.
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