Saturday, October 10, 2009

Children's health insurance: How much aid is enough?



By Richard Wolf

Posted by Michael Rivezzo

The view of Midtown Manhattan rising majestically above the Hudson River doesn't get much better than from here. And the cost of living doesn't get much higher.
It's little wonder, then, that Anna Velazquez says she and her husband, José, can't afford private health insurance for their two children on a $57,000 family income.

Lucky for them, they live in New Jersey. The state has the nation's highest income eligibility level for the Children's Health Insurance Program, a federal-state partnership created in 1997 to help families who earn too much to get Medicaid. Under CHIP, which will expire Oct. 1 unless President Bush and Congress agree to renew it, families of four can get coverage with incomes up to $72,275 — 350% of the federal poverty level. The Velazquezes pay $18.50 a month per child; taxpayers cover the rest.

"What would I do without health insurance?" says Velazquez, 39, who works at a health center. "I wouldn't be able to sleep at night, worrying about my kids."


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2 comments:

  1. Nice & informative post about children plan.I totally agree with you the state has the nation's highest income eligibility level for the Children's Health Insurance Program, a federal-state partnership created in 1997 to help families who earn too much to get Medicaid.

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  2. With the multitude of health insurance providers and a large variety of plans available, searching for appropriate children's health insurance plans can be just as perplexing as those available to adults. When trying to decide which policy to choose, the key elements of coverage and cost should be taken into consideration. The coverage and the costs.

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