Our children are not as healthy as they should be. Telling them to “eat their vegetables” helps, but more must be done.
A report, “America’s Health Starts With Healthy Children: How do States Compare?” 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. Vitamins, minerals, fats, carbohydrates, and protein are needed, although the amounts vary by age.
Sugar and saturated and trans fats should be limited. Corn syrup and brown sugar should be used sparingly. Fats that originate from chicken, beef, and other red meats should not be consumed on a regular basis. Partially hydrogenated oil is found in many products and should be consumed sparingly. Cooking more meals at home is always encouraged, along with maintaining a healthy body weight.
“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,” said 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.”
“Serving Up MyPlate” is a federal program designed to help kids make healthy food choices at home, stay physically fit, and improve skills in core subjects, such as English, Math, Science, and Language. The United States Department of Agriculture provides a book that includes helpful tips and tasty recipes. 60 minutes of daily physical activity and drinking water or low-fat milk instead of soft drinks, will improve health.
Children, especially toddlers, have much different insurance needs than adults. Catastrophic claims are rare, and immunizations are much more common. We show you the best low-cost children’s plans and how easy it is to apply for coverage. If there are serious medical issues, the application will still be approved very quickly. However, when Open Enrollments each year end, any existing medical conditions may not be covered, and acceptance is not guaranteed.
While all of the major Ohio health insurance companies (Anthem, UnitedHealthcare, Aetna, Humana, Medical Mutual etc…) offer individual or group children’s coverage, some policies are better suited for the types of claims that your children might have.
Some of the coverages you should be looking for are:
· Child preventative care. Marketplace plans have no waiting period. The Network should be large enough so that you have many providers to choose from, including specialists and Urgent Care facilities. Pediatric dental and vision benefits are included on Exchange plans.
· Office visit coverage (non-preventative visits) have no waiting period with a copay (usually) of $40 or less. There should be no limit to the number of visits that are used. Specialist office visits should also be provided with no large deductibles to meet. $100 is unacceptable. $50 or less is reasonable. Many Bronze-tier plans will place a deductible on specialist visits.
· Vaccines and immunizations may also typically covered at 100% on Marketplace contracts. Common immunizations include Cholera, Diphtheria, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, HPV, Influenza, Measles, Mumps, Pertussis, Polio, Rubella, Smallpox, Tetanus, and Yellow Fever.
· Prescription drugs should be covered without extra deductibles to meet. The copay on generic prescriptions should be no more than $15. Non-generic prescriptions should have copays in the $20-$60 range. The yearly maximum on prescriptions should be removed (non-Exchange plans). Mail-order discounts should be generous.
“Essential Health Benefits” are now required on all policies and many of the provisions provide protection for young children and young adults. Each year, these benefits are updated, and often, additional free services are added. The most recent Ohio benchmark required benefits are found here.
There are many factors to consider when evaluating different policies. We carefully review all of the major companies for you. If covering only one child, often (assuming age is less than 26), he/she can be added to your existing policy, and the added cost may be less expensive than applying for a separate single plan. However, if they file their own tax return and are not considered as a dependent on your own tax return, enrolling for Marketplace coverage may be the best option.
Health insurance for children in Ohio is generally inexpensive, with 100% preventative benefits. By adding a dependent to an existing policy, the cost may be less, and federal subsidies may be available. Basic dental coverage is included, although many private plans are also available.
Best Children’s Hospitals In Ohio
The Buckeye State has many facilities that provide superior treatment for children’s life-threatening and serious medical conditions. The large number of options allows families to travel less to access services. Listed below are the top-rated hospitals:
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
Nationwide Children’s Hospital
Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital
Rainbow Babies And Children’s Hospital
Akron Children’s Hospital
Dayton Children’s Hospital
Mercy Health-Children’s Hospital
Ohio Hospital For Psychiatry
Shriners Hospitals For Children-Cincinnati
Toledo Children’s Hospital
If You Miss The Open Enrollment Deadline
If you missed Open Enrollment, many “short term” policies are offered. Rates are extremely inexpensive, but coverage is very basic. Although temporary plans provide ideal stop-gap coverage, expensive non-preferred brand drugs may not be adequately included, and unlike Marketplace contracts, maximum benefit clauses can potentially increase your out-of-pocket costs.
Our website allows you to quickly compare plans and apply for benefits. Newborn, infant, child, and teen policies are typically very affordable and fully-eligible for federal tax subsidies. If you are covered through an employer group plan, benefits may be offered throughout the year.
