Health Plan Just for Kids

None by KCPW

(KCPW News) Beginning in January, parents can buy a health insurance plan tailored for their child through Intermountain Healthcare's insurance arm.  SelectHealth spokesman Jason Burgess says too many of Utah's 76-thousand uninsured children are without coverage because their only option is a family plan:

"Sometimes those can be expensive, so this breaks out kids specifically and tailors a plan just for them," says Burgess. "By doing that we can offer a lower-cost, lower-premium plan just for kids."

SelectHealth is the health insurance arm of Intermountain Healthcare. Burgess says the kids plan covers all the basics - from immunization to emergency care and prescriptions. Premiums range from 50 to 90 dollars depending on the child's age and desired deductible. Judi Hilman of the Utah Health Policy Project says a kid-oriented plan is a good idea - especially given the trend among employers to cut benefits for dependents. But, she says children are so cheap to cover, the plan shouldn't require any deductible:

"If you have to meet a deductible, it discourages these children from seeking preventative care, and you don't want to do that." says Hilman. "If you catch something early in a child through preventative care, you're talking about a lifetime of productivity ahead of that child."

Health advocates say the State Children's Health Insurance Plan - or CHIP - is a more effective way to cover the state's uninsured kids. The governor is calling for several million dollars to enroll more children in CHIP.

Meanwhile, the SelectHealth Kids plan is available beginning January first.

Email to a friendPosted in KCPW Newsroom. Copyright 2009 KCPW