Colorado Health Insurance for Children, Infants & Students
Colorado Health Insurance for Children
FREE Tips, Brochures and INSTANT Child-Only Health Plan Quotes
Child Only Health Insurance in Colorado
Emergency Regulation E-11-03
In compliance with the recent passage of SB 11-128 requiring Colorado Health Insurance carriers to offer child-only coverage on a guaranteed basis, The Colorado Division of Insurance has released the following Emergency Regulation regarding open enrollment periods for guaranteed issue "child only" health insurance plans: Emergency Regulation E-11-03 - Concerning Mandatory Open Enrollment Periods for Carriers Issuing Child Only Plans to children ages 0-19.
Qualifying for a Child Only Health Insurance Plan in Colorado:
In order to purchase a Colorado, child-only health insurance policy, the child must have had one of the following qualifying enrollment events within the past 30 days :
birth within the past 30 days
adoption within the past 30 days
parent married within the past 30 days
parent divorced within the past 30 days
court-ordered coverage within the past 30 days
involuntary loss of employer-sponsored coverage within the past 30 days (note: cancellation of employer-sponsored coverage because it's unaffordable does not count as a qualifying event.)
involuntary loss of other insurance for reasons other than fraud or failure to pay premium. (note: cancellation because it's unaffordable does not count as a qualifying event.)
loss of Medicaid or SCHIP eligibiltiy within the past 30 days
apply during an open enrollment period (Jan 1st-31st or July 1st-31st)
Open Enrollment
If your child does not have another qualifying event, you must wait to apply until open enrollment, which occurs twice a year, in January and July. Applications MUST be received during the months of open enrollment, and the effective date of the policy will be first of the month following 30 days after the application is received. (March 1st if the application is made in January or September 1st if the application is made in July.) Unfortunately, due to the new federal requirement that health insurance companies guarantee child-only coverage regardless of health status, Colorado health insurance companies NO LONGER offer short term health insurance plans to children, so there are no options for coverage while you are waiting for an open enrollment event or period, unless you have the ability to add your child to an employer-sponsored health insurance plan through your place of employment. However, low-Income families may qualify to place their child(ren) on SCHIP (CHP Plus) through www.cchp.org.
Why is Infant Health Insurance so Expensive?
Note: Child-only health insurance for infants is now quite expensive post Obamacare. This is partly due to mandatory 100% coverage for child well-visits and immunizations. Additionally, since there is a high risk of health complications during the first 2 years of life, and insurance carriers are no longer allowed to deny children with existing health problems, insurance carriers are factoring this risk into the cost of every policy sold. We have found that the best rates for healthy infants are offered from Assurant Health. Please contact us for a quote, plan details and a paper application.
Note: Please Read this if you currently have the option of adding your child to a group health insurance plan, but are unable to afford the premiums:
The ONLY carriers that will accept an application for your child are Rocky Mountain Health Plans or Kaiser Permanente. Other health insurance carriers are NOT ACCEPTING applications for children who have access to an employer-sponsored benefit plan under a parent.
Carriers Selling Child-Only Health Insurance:
Rocky Mountain Health Plans (offers the largest selection of plans and lowest deductibles)
Kaiser Permanente (Denver and Boulder areas only)
Humana One (offers very inexpensive high deductible plans for children ages 2 and up)
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield (offers the best rates for children with pre-existing conditions)
Cigna
Assurant Health (offers the best rates for infants between the ages of 0 and 2)
Available Health Insurance Plans for Children
Each insurance company offers specific plans for child-only coverage during specified open enrollment periods. Click on the following Child-Only FAQ document to determine the specific plans available.
Colorado Child Only Insurance Coverage Frequently Asked Questions
Please contact us for specific plan details.
Quotes
Currently, the only carriers quoting child-only coverage on our quoting engine are Rocky Mountain Health Plans and Kaiser Permanente. For quotes from any of the other insurance companies, click here. You may need to contact our office for a quote, as some of the carriers only have their child-only rates available on rate-sheets that are not available on the internet.
Please feel free to contact us for a personalized quote comparison.
Important Factors to Consider
Is Your Child a Newborn?
If so, and if you had an existing healthplan when your child was born, be advised:
Your child is automatically covered under your existing healthplan for the first 31 days of life.
(This rule applies to the mother's health insurance, the father's health insurance or both parents if you have a family policy). Refer to 10-16-104. Mandatory coverage provisions. (Colorado Health Insurance Laws). If you decide that you want to add your child to your existing health insurance plan, you'll need to notify your health insurance carrier within 31 days following your child's birthday in order to continue coverage beyond the first 31 days of life. If you don't notify your health insurance carrier, it is possible that your child's coverage will be terminated beyond the first 31 days of life.
Student Health Insurance:
You can find plans that are specifically marketed for students, such as the Assurant Health Student Health Insurance Plan and plans offered through colleges and universities, but these plans often have annual limits on major medical coverage and can be priced higher or no better than full coverage major medical plans, such as major medical plans offered by the health insurance companies represented by Erickson Financial Services.
Supplemental Accident Coverage:
Most Individual Health Insurance Plans DO NOT cover a trip to the ER under a copay like you may have been used to under an employer-sponsored health plan. Rather, you will pay a copay PLUS your deductible for a trip to the ER. To prevent having to pay the high price for an unexpected visit to the emergeny room, you might want to consider a plan that either has supplemental accident coverage built in or a plan that offers the ability to add supplemental accident coverage as an option. Accident coverage provides first dollar coverage (coverage before the deductible) to you in the event of an accident such as a broken arm or a bad wound or cut. Supplemental accident coverage can be purchased as an additional rider on most health insurance plans OR, you can purchase a standalone supplemental accident plan that will protect your child from the cost of the deductible in the event of an accident.
Dental and Vision Coverage:
When considering a Colorado Child Health Plan, don't forget to think about dental and vision benefits. Click here to learn more about individual and family Colorado dental insurance options.
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield offers a comprehensive child-only dental insurance plan for approx. $22/mo.
Colorado Vision Insurance Plans (children must enroll with at least one parent)
Low-Income Colorado Health Insurance for Kids
Child Health Plan Plus
CHP Plus is a public-private partnership for Colorado's Children and Pregnant Women. It is Colorado's State Children's Health Plan (SCHIP). Here is the CHP Plus Fact Sheet, which discusses eligibility guidelines and information about the plan. | |
