Infant Health Insurance in California

California residents can find a number of private, group and public health insurance options for families, children, pregnant women and infants. State public health programs can provide comprehensive coverage for infant care, such as doctor visits, hospital services and prescription drugs. With a variety of programs to choose from, families with infants can qualify for low-cost coverage, with household incomes as high as 300 percent of the federal poverty level.

Medi-Cal

• Medi-Cal, the state's Medicaid program, offers coverage for low-income families and children and provides prenatal coverage for pregnant women. Children in families with a household income of 200 percent of the federal poverty level or less can apply. Infants must hold U.S. citizenship or residency in California. Undocumented immigrants can receive pregnancy-related and emergency services through Medi-Cal. Financed through state and federal funding, Medi-Cal benefits include clinic services, doctor administered medications, physician services, pharmacy services and inpatient and outpatient services.

Healthy Families

• The Healthy Families program provides subsidized coverage for kids in families that have a household income of 250 percent of the federal poverty level or less, and do not qualify for free Medi-Cal coverage. The Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board (MRMIB) administers the program. Benefits include inpatient and outpatient hospital care, physician services, laboratory services, skilled nursing and prescription drugs. Infants cannot have coverage from employer-sponsored insurance plans and must hold U.S. citizenship or qualify as a legal immigrant.

Healthy Kids

• The Healthy Kids plan can cover physician services, laboratory services, inpatient and outpatient hospital care, medical transportation, prescription drugs and preventative medical care. The program offers coverage for newborns and children up to 18 years of age. Children who do not qualify for the Healthy Family program or Medi-Cal and do not have employer-sponsored health insurance can qualify. Kids in families with a household income up to 300 percent of the federal poverty level can apply for Healthy Kids. Monthly premiums can range from zero to less than $10 per child (as of November 2010). Select services require co-payments.

Private and Group Health Insurance

• Employed parents or legal guardians can obtain infant health insurance through employer-sponsored group health care plans. Workers employed by companies that do not offer group health care insurance can also purchase private insurance policies directly from health insurance providers. Health insurance companies in California include Aetna Health of California, Blue Shield of California, Kaiser Permanente and PacifiCare of California, among others.

Finding Infant Health Insurance

• Employed parents and legal guardians can inquire with the human resources department of their companies about group health insurance plans. Consumers can find ratings for and information about public and private health care plans through the California Office of the Patient Advocate. The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) provides a wealth of information about health care plans and services available for pregnant women, families and infants. Families working under the case management of California Department of Social Services (CDSS) can inquire about health care coverage for families and infants and can apply for Medi-Cal coverage at county social services offices.