North Carolina Health Insurance for Kids

North Carolina has programs designed to help low-income children get health insurance. However, there are options available to help you insure your children even if you do not qualify for help from the government. Young children should have regular checkups to monitor how well they are growing. Regular doctor's visits can also help catch developmental problems so you can begin early interventions.

Medicaid

• North Carolina offers Medicaid for children who are under the age of 6 who qualify by being below 200 percent of poverty. If you are at 133 percent of poverty or lower, your child may qualify for Medicaid over the age of 6. This insurance does not have an annual premium or co-payments when you go to the doctor. You will need to find a doctor who accepts Medicaid. Not all urgent care clinics or doctors will accept Medicaid, although most hospitals will. To apply for Medicaid, you need to contact your county's department of Health and Human Services. Medicaid will cover both health care and dental care. It may also cover things like speech and occupational therapy if your child demonstrates a real need for the services.

Health Choice

• North Carolina offers Health Choice as the state's version of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). The guidelines and administration of Health Choice are unique to North Carolina. This government program is available to low-income children who are older than 6 years of age. This health plan may require you to pay an annual premium each year for each child. You will also have a co-payment for doctor's visits and prescriptions. The co-payment amount is based on your income but is lower than a normal co-payment amount. Typical co-payments include $5 doctor's visits and $20 emergency room visits, although these cost may change depending on your income. This insurance will cover both health and dental care. The application process is the same as the Medicaid application.

Independent Insurance

• If you do not meet income requirements for Medicaid or Health Choice, you can purchase an individual health insurance plan for your child. Many different options are available, and you may want to contact an independent health insurance agent to find the most affordable plan for your situation. Children need regular well-care visits, so be sure the policy you choose covers these. You may need to purchase a separate dental insurance plan. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina is the biggest independent insurance provider in the state, but you should look at other companies as well.

Parents' Insurance

• The easiest option may be to sign your child up for insurance through your work. If your company offers a group plan, your child cannot be turned away if he has had past medical problems or pre-existing conditions. Contact your human resources department to apply for health insurance, although you may need to wait for an open enrollment period or have a qualifying event to add your child. If your child is a newborn or just lost health insurance coverage you previously had, she will be eligible to enroll right away.