Children in Ohio, are not as healthy as they should be.

A report, “America’s Health Starts With Healthy Children: How do States Compare?”  from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Commission to Build a Healthier America is the first to rank states on infant mortality and children's health status based on key social factors, and it shows that as parent's income and levels of education rise, children's health improves. 

"All parents want their children to grow up to lead long, healthy lives, but sadly, not all of our children have the same opportunities to reach those goals," says Commission Co-chair Alice M. Rivlin. "This report shows us just how much a child's health is shaped by the environment in which he or she lives. We seek to identify ways to narrow these gaps so our nation can put all children on an even path to good health."

Children, especially toddlers, have much different insurance needs than adults.  Catastrophic claims are rare, and immunizations are much more common.

While all of the major Ohio health insurance companies (Anthem, UnitedHealthCare, Aetna, Humana etc…) offer children’s coverage, some policies are better suited for the types of claims that children often have.

Some of the coverages you should be looking for are:

·         Child preventative care. There should be a  “copay” for the benefits and no waiting period. In addition, the copay should be $40 or less. There should not be a cap on the number of preventive care visits are used.

·         Office visit coverage (non-preventative visits) should have no waiting period with a copay of $40 or less. Again, there should be no limit to the number of visits that are used. Specialist office visits should also be used with no large deductibles to meet.

·         Vaccines and immunizations should be covered…preferably with a copay.

·         Prescription drugs should be covered. The copay on generic prescriptions  should be no more than $15. Non-generic prescriptions should also be covered, with copays in the $20-$60 range. The yearly maximum on prescriptions should be at least $3000.

There are many factors to consider when evaluating different Ohio Health Insurance Plans. We carefully review all of the major companies for you. Please keep in mind that in Ohio, "children only" policies are typically not offered by the major carriers. Policies, however, are offered if a child (under age 19) is on the same policy with a parent.

To instantly view, compare or apply for Ohio health care, please click on the "Get Instant Quote" button at the top of the page. Your personal information is never shared. And you can always call us at (888) 513 6446.

UPDATE 2011- Recent health care reform changes added preventive benefits to most Ohio health insurance plans. However, "child only" policies are almost impossible to find.