What should you do as a parent if you have an ill child and no health insurance?

Q: What should you do as a parent if you have an ill child and no health insurance?

A: In the case of a medical emergency, insured or not, take your child to the nearest emergency room. The majority of hospitals are required by law to treat a patient with a health emergency. The Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act, which was passed in 1986 as part of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, or COBRA, includes that hospitals and ambulance services must provide necessary emergency health care regardless of citizenship, legal status or ability to pay. Though you may not be able to pay, you still will be legally responsible for the cost of your child’s care. However, you cannot be held criminally liable for not paying, unless you intentionally and knowingly provide false identifying information to avoid paying for care.

You should not rely on emergency room care for all of your child’s medical needs. Hospitals under the emergency medical act are not required to care for nonemergency medical conditions, and they may discharge a patient after the patient has been stabilized and can care for himself or be cared for by another. Because of these limitations, obtain insurance for your child as soon as possible.



Fortunately, under the Affordable Health Care Act signed in 2010, a child’s pre-existing condition must now be covered in a health insurance policy, and a child with chronic health conditions cannot be denied coverage. Adults are not scheduled to receive similar protections until 2014.



If you cannot afford private insurance, then apply for Medi-Cal coverage for your child. If your income or assets exceed the limits for Medi-Cal eligibility, your child may qualify for health care coverage under the Healthy Families Program. This government insurance program offers low-cost health, dental and vision coverage.

Additionally, California Children’s Services, or CCS, is a state program that provides assistance to children with certain diseases, physical limitations or chronic health problems. To obtain CCS assistance, a child must be under 21 years old, have or be suspected of having a medical problem that CCS covers, be a resident of California and be in a family with an income under $40,000 (adjusted gross income on state tax return). A few examples of the many health problems that CCS covers are cancers, diabetes, cerebral palsy and broken bones.



If your child is not experiencing an emergency health problem, there are clinics in San Diego that may treat your child at little or no cost.



For example, Family Health Centers of San Diego accept a broad range of payment and insurance plans. These clinics offer affordable services to all income levels, with a special commitment to low income and medically underserved individuals.



Another option is provided by Volunteers in Medicine San Diego, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to improve access to health care for the underserved and uninsured. This charitable organization is staffed by retired physicians, dentists and other medical professionals who provide care without compensation.

Further, some local hospitals provide medically necessary health care services to patients requiring admission to the hospital at low or no cost.



For example, Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego is committed to providing care to patients regardless of their ability to pay. Consistent with this commitment, its financial counselors will first work with a child’s family to determine their eligibility for governmental program assistance. State and County eligibility workers knowledgeable in Medi-Cal, Healthy Families and California Children Services assist in determining eligibility and in completing the application process. If a patient does not qualify for a government program, an Rady Financial Assistance Program is in place to provide discounted care to eligible patients based upon their family income.



Another resource that a social worker may refer you to is the San Diego Ronald McDonald House. This charity provides a “home away from home” for children and their families while their child is admitted at any hospital in the San Diego area.

Its Family Care Center also is available during the day to anyone with a child in a hospital. This unique offering provides a place for a family to enjoy a hot meal, relax in a family play area, obtain medical information online, nap, or simply take a break from the often stressful hospital environment.

Additionally, if you are struggling with financial or legal issues while your child is ill, the Professional Alliance for Children may provide relief. The Alliance is a nonprofit organization that aligns professionals — attorneys, Certified Financial Planners, and CPAs — to provide free assistance with these issues. Along with the other charitable organizations described in this article, the Alliance’s mission is to better the lives of children by helping them and their families in their time of need.


All children should receive quality health care regardless of the current financial status of their family. You are not alone when there are resources available that will help you to care for your child.

Most families have no life insurance

A new study has found that most families in the UK currently have no financial protection such as life insurance . The research, carried out by insurance giant Aviva, showed that 61 per cent do not hold life insurance cover, while 93 per cent admit to not having sufficient financial protection.

It was also revealed that 87 per cent are without critical illness cover, and that 89 per cent did not have income protection, all of which means that millions of families face financial disaster if the main breadwinners were to lose their job, become ill or die.

The most concern is about single parent families, as the research found that 76 per cent of single parent families and 68 per cent of divorced parents with two or more children said they believed they were financially underprotected.

Even previous problems do not persuade people to sort out cover, as the research showed that four in ten families said they had been seriously affected by illness in the past, but still had not taken out a policy. A fifth of all respondents said they had not taken out life insurance because of its cost, and five per cent thought it never paid out anyway.

Louise Colley, head of protection marketing at Aviva, commented "Life insurance and income protection can provide families with financial peace of mind in the unfortunate event of a sudden loss of income, and critical illness insurance can provide a lump sum cash payment should the insured suffer serious illness or disease."

10 tips for health insurance open enrollment

Wedged in between Halloween and Thanksgiving is health insurance open enrollment season for many employees. That means it's time to review health benefits and pick what plan to enroll in for next year.

This year, things are a little different in light of the health reform bill signed into law in March. So we consulted Optima Health and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield for these health insurance open enrollment tips.

Expect premiums to go up. Optima Health estimates a 1 to 4 percent increase to the base rates of large group plans and a 2 to 3 percent hike for small group and individual plans. This reflects the added medical expenses of providing coverage of dependents up to age 26, the elimination of member cost sharing on preventive services and other new mandates. At Anthem, premiums increases on average are in the mid-single- to low double-digit range, said Scott Golden, an Anthem spokesman.