Health insurance is one of the most important things you should have for your child. It is important that when there is a gap in insurance to find a supplement until her primary insurance becomes effective. Short-term health insurance can be temporary and provides a blanket of coverage for health care services depending on the realm of coverage that you need.
Significance
Health insurance is important for everyone to have. It acts as a security blanket to prevent you from having to pay out of pocket for health care. As a parent, you know how quickly a child can get hurt or sick and the financial effects can take a toll on your pocketbook. A visit to the doctor and filling up an antibiotic can run a couple of hundred of dollars. A solid insurance plan will keep out of pocket costs to a minimum. If you lose your job or become laid off for several months out of the year, you may lose your primary insurance. Acquiring a short-term health insurance plan will help bridge the gap until the policy is active, explains the U.S. Office of Personnel and Management.
Time Frame
Short-term health insurance can be accommodated based on your child's needs. While most physicians bill their insurance monthly, some may submit claims 90 days or later past the date of service. Some insurance companies may automatically deny claim if they show the patient is currently covered or it may be difficult to provide accuracy with the date of service range. Health insurance can be month by month or it can cover quarterly or bi-annually time frames.
Types
You can acquire short-term health insurance many different ways for your child. You can add them to your employee health plan, a state funded plan such as Medicaid or CHIP or purchase short-term insurance through a local insurance agency. To enroll or change a policy type, you may have to do so during open enrollment at designated times of the year. If you have an older teen that will be moving out of the home, he may be eligible for COBRA, or Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1984, notes KidsHealth website. This allows you to extend his health coverage through your employer for a specified short-term time period. You may also want to consider a health savings account that allows you to save up funds to pay for premiums, co-pays and other out of pocket costs not covered by insurance.
Benefits
A good short term insurance plan will assure you can get not only affordable care but also quality care. A good plan should allow you to choose a preferred provider based in a network of nearby hospitals and clinics that offer quality health care services. Kiplinger reports that some short-term or temporary health insurance plans may lack coverage. They may not cover pre-existing health conditions and hospital stays.
Effects
A policy that is easy to use and simple to understand will take the guesswork out of your child's health care. Regular physician's visits, immunizations, prescription drugs, inpatient surgery, outpatient therapy, physical therapy, well visits and hospitalization stays should all be covered or covered to fit your budget.
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