The Healthy Families program provides low-cost health insurance in California.
In addition to no-cost Medi-Cal, the state of California also offers low-cost insurance options through the Healthy Families program. In order to be eligible for this program, the applicant must be ineligible for Medi-Cal.
Covered Groups
The Healthy Families program is for children up to age 18 and pregnant women who live in California. The applicant must have been without employer-sponsored health insurance for at least three months.
Benefits
Although not a no-cost program, it is a low-cost program where the state of California pays most of the medical expenses for doctors, dentists and specialists. There may be low premiums and co-pays.
Types
Income guidelines are divided into the following groups: Children ages 0 to 1 and pregnant women, children ages 1 to 5 and children age 6 to 18. These guidelines vary and are reestablished each year in April.
Considerations
Income guidelines for Healthy Families begin $1 above the cut off for the Medi-Cal program. For example, if the income guidelines for Medi-Cal are $0 to $1,805 per month for a particular group and family size, then the lowest income for Healthy Families will begin at $1,806 for that same group and family size.
Features
The applicant or the applicant's guardian chooses the medical, dental and vision plans for herself or her children.
Tags: Healthy Families, Families program, Healthy Families program, applicant must, family size
