posted on August 16, 2000 07:20:02 PM new
I was talking about insurance on the EO and I don't have an answer for adults. However, I wanted to share what I found out for children.
Every state should by now I think have in place the CHIPS program. It is NOT a welfare or medicaid program (the financial allowances are much higher) although it is managed through the Dept of Human Services. What it is is a group insurance plan for kids of working parents with no insurance and the self-employed. You do have to meet financial requirements but they are really really fair and some uninsured full time sellers may qualify. You have to have had NO insurance coverage for the last 6 months to qualify.
They are:
Family size: 4
Earn under: $34,100 annual maximum
Family size: 5
Earn under $39,900
Family size: 6
Earn under: $45,700
(it goes up to $57,300 for a family of 8.)
What does it cover? For CHILDREN UNDER 19 YEARS OLD:
hospital in and out patient
doctor visits
prescriptions
eyeglasses
hearing aids
dental care (not braces)
immunizations
mental health
substance abuse treatment
(and other stuff but that's the basics)
NO exclusions for pre-existing conditions.
You can use the doctor of your choice. You get a card. You generally will pay a $5 "co-pay" per incident.
This is off my states brochure but it's a nationwide program so check with your own state's DHS and ask about "CHIPS" (Children's Health Insurance Services). They told me today that an adult program is in the works and likely within 2 years.
posted on August 16, 2000 07:45:34 PM new
In this State, the program is only free for kids under six. Parents are charged a premium for $7.50 per child for kids over six. Still, it's a great program and good for kids.
posted on August 16, 2000 08:54:07 PM newjada - same here. No cost at all for children under six, and covers everything. They call it "Healthy Start" up here. A program for the whole family is available up here - you have to be without insurance for 3 months. We have a family of four, and our monthly premium is $60. And that's it. No co-pays or anything. It was worth going three months without any insurance to make the change from a "major medical" policy that covered basically nothing and charged us $45 per week for premiums plus co-pays to this.
It's worth checking into where ever you live, although the basics will vary from state to state. And jt is correct - it is not welfare. It's a way for working families to have decent health coverage for a decent price. It covers everything, and the income guidelines are quite wide, unlike many other programs offered to "help".
posted on August 18, 2000 11:21:52 PM new
I signed up for the program for my 2 youngest ( I have 4 kids) 2 of them are under 16 , I was turned down becouse our income was to low. I could not believe it when I recieved the letter, they told me to try to sign up for medicade for my kids my daugter has a curve in her back and has to be checked every 6 months until she is grown. but to make a long story short I could not get med. they would not take odd jobs as a income Or auction sales as a income, I did finaly get help though The Childrens Rehab center is helping with the doctor and the xrays and they told me that if she has to ware a brace they will help with that also. Just today I heard that they were going to try and get parents to sign there kids up not enough people were taking part and using the program Makes you wonder why?
posted on August 20, 2000 11:24:33 PM new
I don't think you should take "no" that easily. Ask for their supervisor. Sometimes it's just ignorance with misunderstandings like that and if you are persistant you will win out. (I put up a REAL stinky and I always ask for the president or the director. I will go home and call back pretending to be important too if I have to.)
I explained that we don't have "check stubs" so they had no problem taking last year's tax return. Assuming that you paid the proper taxes on your ebay sales, they should not be able to turn you down. You tell them you are "self-employed as an on-line merchant" and "here is my tax return". They are likely ignorant to what you mean when you say "auction sales" if they are calling it an "odd-job". I would not even tell them what or where you sale. Just say I own a "web based business".
