Colorado Child Health Insurance - Colorado Infant Health Insurance
Infant Health Insurance Colorado   Newborn Health Insurance Colorado   Child Health Insurance Colorado

When purchasing Child Health Insurance in Colorado,
there are a few important items to take into consideration:

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 Statutes).
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.

Do you have employer-sponsored health insurance for dependents?
If YES
Find out if you will you have to pay for part of your dependent coverage via a payroll deduction.
If  so, will the payroll deduction be made on a pre-tax or post-tax basis? 
If pre-tax, you'll want to make sure you take into consideration your tax savings before comparing the additional cost of coverage on your employer-sponsored healthplan to comparative plans in the individual market.   The tax savings from a pre-tax payroll deduction often times makes it very cost-effective to place your child(ren) on your employer's healthplan instead of purchasing an individual policy for your child(ren).

If NO (or if employer does not contribute to the cost of dependent's premiums)
If you have only one or two children, then you may find that an Individual Health Insurance Policy will be more cost effective than an employer-sponsored healthplan....especially if your child(ren) is/are healthy.   Look at the featured plans on the left to see which individual healthplans we recommend for infants and children.
If you have more than two children, you'll probably find that an employer-sponsored healthplan offers the most cost-effective coverage when compared to similar coverage in the individual market.  This is because the EMPLOYEE & CHILD or FAMILY rate in the group market is typically the same regardless of how many children are covered on the policy. 

A few more things to think about when purchasing
Child Health Insurance in Colorado

Preventive Care Coverage:
The State of Colorado mandates that age appropriate immunizations and well-visits are covered without being subject to the plan deductible on ALL healthplans through age 13.  See 10-16-104. Mandatory coverage provisions. (Colorado Statutes).

Some plans, however, such as Humana One Portrait and Autograph Share 80 and Aetna Managed Choice Open Access, offer coverage for preventive services beyond age 13.

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 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.   Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield's Blue Preferred plan has $500 of first dollar coverage included and Humana One offers an option to purchase accident coverage ($500 or $1000) for an additional premium.  

Dental and Vision Coverage:
Don't forget to think about dental and vision benefits.  Most individual healthplans do not offer dental or vision coverage, but unlike most other carriers, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield offers dental coverage as an option, AND it has a vision benefit built into the Blue Preferred plan design. Humana and Aetna also offer optional dental coverage.

When is an Application Allowed for a Newborn?
If your child is a newborn, you'll need to consider the specific underwriting guidelines of the various carriers when choosing Colorado infant health insurance.  Some carriers, such as Humana One, require that the child has had it's two-month checkup before they'll allow the child to apply for coverage.  On the other hand, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield will accept an application for a newborn with medical records from all of the baby's visits with his/her pediatrician. 

What are Your Options if You Cannot Afford to
Purchase Health Insurance for Your Child?

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).