No Child Should Be Uninsured In 2020

While the debate surrounding health care reform continues to heat up at the national level, there’s one important statistic to keep in mind: An estimated four million children in the United States are not covered by any type of health insurance. As a mother, as well as an insurance executive, I know we can do better. What’s more, we don’t need to wait to see who takes office in 2020 to do so.

The open enrollment period from November 1 – December 15 is the best time for those who are uninsured to learn more about their insurance options. But before we can discuss solutions, it’s important to understand what health care coverage look like for our most vulnerable. Like many Americans, my husband and I are fortunate enough to have employers who sponsor health care coverage for ourselves and for our family. But thousands of families aren’t so lucky. In fact, according to the US Census Bureau, children under 18 have the highest rate of public health insurance coverage. More than 40 percent of children don’t get insurance through their parents’ employers, but rather through the government.

This trend is likely due to the expansion of federal options like the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which is designed to help economically disadvantaged families. While that’s good news for some, not all children are able to access these services. Consider non citizen children who have an uninsured rate of 19 percent.

But it’s not just our youngest that are at risk. Almost 15 percent of adults between 18-24 years old are also uninsured. This might sound surprising, since children are allowed to stay on their parents insurance until they reach 26 years old. But if your parents don’t have employer-sponsored insurance -- and you can’t afford it on your own -- health insurance can simply seem out of reach.   Fortunately, that’s not the case. Coverage is possible at any age, as long as parents and young adults know their options.

Let’s start with some questions parents typically ask: “Can I get health insurance that covers just my child?” Or, “Can I get basic insurance that covers just the big things?” The answer in both instances is: Of course! In fact, depending on their income level, parents have several choices. As I’ve mentioned, federal programs like Medicaid and CHIP are one option for qualifying households. For families who may not fall into that category, catastrophic health insurance can be a good alternative. It also has the lowest cost option of all the Obamacare insurance plans. Temporary health insurance can also provide a layer of financial protection until more comprehensive coverage can be obtained.

While it’s good to see both our Democratic and Republican presidential candidates debate the best health care system for our country, we still remain far from enacting meaningful change. But that doesn’t mean health coverage should be out of reach. Families should take advantage of this open enrollment period to seriously consider the benefits of affordable temporary insurance for their coverage needs. While it’s important to strive for innovative health solutions for the long-term, we have the power today to make sure no child goes uninsured in 2020.

Jan Dubauskas is a healthcare expert, enthusiastic insurance pro and mom serving as Vice President and Senior Counsel at Health Insurance Innovations, Inc. (HIIQ), a market leading cloud-based technology platform and distributor of innovative health insurance products that are affordable and meet the needs of health insurance plan consumers.