Why Does My Child Need Health Insurance?

Children get sick. They fall. They bump their heads and break bones. Sometimes they even get cancer or other serious diseases. As a parent, you may wonder if health insurance is really necessary for a healthy child. The answer is yes, health insurance is a necessity, even for children who appear healthy, vibrant and strong.

Preventative Care

• Most health insurance policies for children include Well Child Visits. These visits are a time for doctors to check hearing, vision, and growth patterns. Parents have the opportunity to speak with the doctor about any pressing health issues such as bladder problems, trouble sleeping, eating issues or hyperactivity. Children also receive vaccinations at Well Child Visits.

  Without health insurance, parents are responsible for covering the cost of these visits out of pocket. The American Association of Pediatrics says the average cost of a Well Child Visit is $95. This does not include the cost of vaccinations, which can be as much as $100 each. A newborn baby needs seven Well Child Visits, and by kindergarten a child will need approximately twelve visits. Without health insurance, these costs add up quickly.

Bumps and Bruises

• Every child falls and gets hurt from time to time. No matter how protective you are or how child-proofed your home is, at some point your child will get hurt. According to the Center for Disease Control's National Center for Health Statistics, each year more than 66 million injuries result in some type of medical care ranging from a doctor's visit to a hospital stay. The CDC also says that children come to the emergency room 200,000 times per year for playground-related injuries alone.

  The average cost of a trip to the emergency room is $560 - if the patient is not admitted. Emergency room visits are not planned for or budgeted. Accidents do not happen on schedule. Without health insurance, a parent will be left with the responsibility of paying the full cost of a visit to the hospital.

The Unthinkable Can Hapen

• People do not want to believe that their child could get sick. Each year, 12 out of every 100,000 children under age four are diagnosed with cancer. Another 36,000 children are born with a heart defect or heart disease. You may be able to anticipate the cost of a trip to the emergency room for a broken bone and the costs of vaccinations. But if your child becomes very sick, the costs will be overwhelming.

  Cancer treatments can cost as much as $60,000 per year including hospital stays, doctor visits, testing and medications. This could push a family into financial ruin. Many parents say, "It will never happen to us." But the truth is, it happens every day and it could be your child. You must be prepared.