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Ohio Health Insurance for Babies

Ohio has a public health program that helps low-income families; children and pregnant women afford health insurance. The Medicaid and S-CHIP Programs are federal and state-subsidized insurance programs available to qualifying low-income and medically needy individuals and families. Known as "Healthy Families" and "Healthy Start," both programs feature coverage for diagnostic lab work and x-rays, emergency care, physician services, inpatient hospital treatment, prescription drugs, dental and vision, among other benefits.

  1. Qualifications

    • If your family's income falls below 90 percent of the federal poverty limit, your child will qualify for Medicaid, a no-cost health plan with comprehensive health coverage. Families with incomes above the Medicaid eligibility cut-off may still qualify for children's health coverage through Ohio's Healthy Start Program, or S-CHIP. Your baby may qualify for S-CHIP if your household income is less than 200 percent of the federal poverty limit.

    Apply

    • Unlike many other U.S. states, Ohio does not require you to meet in a face-to-face interview with a caseworker before applying for Medicaid or S-CHIP coverage. Instead, you can apply online at the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services website or by mailing an application to your local Job and Family Services Department branch. Be prepared to provide your child's proof of legal Ohio residence, as well as your proof of household income. Once the state accepts your baby for Healthy Families or Healthy Start, you will only have to reapply for coverage once per year.

    CBI Program

    • Ohio does not exclude any legal minor-aged resident from access to public health coverage. If your income exceeds the eligibility guidelines for Medicaid and S-CHIP, you may participate in the CBI, or Children's Buy-In Program. You will pay a monthly premium for each of your enrolled children, as well as a deductible, coinsurance and co-payments. Your premium will depend on your household income, and the plan provides comprehensive health insurance coverage that does not discriminate against pre-existing conditions.

    Private Insurance

    • If your baby does not qualify for subsidized insurance from the state Medicaid and S-CHIP programs and you cannot afford the CBI premiums, you may want to add your child to your existing private or employer-sponsored health insurance policy as a dependent. Depending on your level of health coverage and employer's policies regarding dependent premiums, you may pay less for private dependent health coverage than for the government CBI public option.

      Additionally, if your baby has a pre-existing medical condition, your insurer cannot deny or limit her coverage and benefits due to the passage of the Affordable Care Act in 2010, which prohibits discrimination against children's pre-existing medical conditions. However, be sure to add your baby as a dependent to an existing health policy within 31 days following your child's birth, as waiting longer than that in Ohio allows your insurer to avoid extending health coverage your baby until your next open enrollment period.

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