Insurance for LO- anyone getting an independent child policy?

TrendyTina · January 2012

For both DH and I our health insurance is covered 100% by our employers. Apparently, as a result, it is very expensive to add a dependent. We've both looked into it and it will be around $430 a month to add LO regardless of who's policy he will be going on. This is higher than we would like to spend so we are going to start looking into independent child policies. Is anyone else going this route? We do NOT want to sacrfice coverage to save money, but $430 a month just seems crazy.

Anyone know of any really good companies where we could start looking?

Lina1030 · January 2012

to my knowledge a child must be accompanied on an adult plan...at least in my state (FL) that is the rule. My daughter has an individual plan that we have had for years so as long as she keeps it she is fine,but if we cancel it we have to add her to one of our individual plans. DS is with me, and as of now so will the new baby. Group plans since my husband only has 1 employee are too expensive, so we have individual plans for him, DD (I had it before DH and I got married), myself and DS together. Will probably add new baby on my plan unless there is a better option.

AmyZig1 · January 2012

Be very careful about this. Few states allow you to sign up for child-only policies anymore at any time.

That said, many states (but not all) DO have a short child-only enrollment period during which you can obtain child-only coverage. For example, in my state (Iowa) our child-only enrollment period is July 1-Aug 15, but there may be different rules for new babies. Obviously, you don't want LO to go uninsured for the first couple months.

I highly recommend talking to a licensed health insurance agent to go over your options. $430/month is really expensive - I hope you find something.

TrendyTina · January 2012

Sooo I just got off the phone with an insurance agent and you guys were right. No go for us. Thanks to Obama you can no longer write an individual policy for a child. Apparently he is more concerned with protecting the "risk" factors asscoiated with insurance companies taking on potentially "sick" babies as clients rather than doing right by working people. Thanks OBAMA! Guess we'll be paying that $430/month bill.

AmyZig1 · January 2012

Yuck. As an alternative, you could look in to how much a policy for yourself and LO would cost and see how it compares to your group benefits. It may be slightly cheaper. But it also might not be.

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Insurance for LO- anyone getting an independent child policy?

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