There were in 2001 1.9% of children being raised by relatives other than their parents, according to the census bureau by 2004 this number had risen to 4%, and it continues to climb. 55% of these children not raised by other relatives are in the care of grandparents.
It is frequently difficult for these grandparents to find health insurance for their grandchildren. The children's parents are frequently not working, and when they are working and still in contact with the family, they do not themselves have health insurance.
When grandparents have insurance they sometimes find that this insurance will not cover children without proof of adoption. Adoption is not always the solution to resolve the temporary situation these children are in.
Another group of grandparents have health insurance through the state or the department of defense retiree programs. Again in this case children who were not adopted do not qualify as dependents for insurance purposes.
Regardless of the reason, for which grandparents cannot obtain insurance for the children they care for, it is a difficult and even scary situation. States offer health insurance for children who are not covered for any reason, and the first line of information is through the medicaid programs, that every state does maintain.
Not being able to provide insurance in these situations is not an income issue. States recognize this fact and while they fall under the umbrella of Medicaid and SRS, there are programs that are not income contingent that you can apply for. Remember that states would be paying foster care costs as well as insurance cost, should you not raise these children.
For families who have other financial challenges beside that of securing health insurance, relatives raising children may find that they qualify for other benefits, such as child care subsidies, special educations services and/or disability payments. The Children Defense Fund doe have some information about these programs.
Another federal program that can be a source of revenue for grandchildren is the Federal Kinship Guardianship Assistance, that is available for children who were placed in foster care before being placed in a grandparent or other relative household.
While requirements for application may vary with each state in the union, at the time of writing this article every state had a program of low cost or no cost health insurance for grandparents as caregivers.
It is frequently difficult for these grandparents to find health insurance for their grandchildren. The children's parents are frequently not working, and when they are working and still in contact with the family, they do not themselves have health insurance.
When grandparents have insurance they sometimes find that this insurance will not cover children without proof of adoption. Adoption is not always the solution to resolve the temporary situation these children are in.
Another group of grandparents have health insurance through the state or the department of defense retiree programs. Again in this case children who were not adopted do not qualify as dependents for insurance purposes.
Regardless of the reason, for which grandparents cannot obtain insurance for the children they care for, it is a difficult and even scary situation. States offer health insurance for children who are not covered for any reason, and the first line of information is through the medicaid programs, that every state does maintain.
Not being able to provide insurance in these situations is not an income issue. States recognize this fact and while they fall under the umbrella of Medicaid and SRS, there are programs that are not income contingent that you can apply for. Remember that states would be paying foster care costs as well as insurance cost, should you not raise these children.
For families who have other financial challenges beside that of securing health insurance, relatives raising children may find that they qualify for other benefits, such as child care subsidies, special educations services and/or disability payments. The Children Defense Fund doe have some information about these programs.
Another federal program that can be a source of revenue for grandchildren is the Federal Kinship Guardianship Assistance, that is available for children who were placed in foster care before being placed in a grandparent or other relative household.
While requirements for application may vary with each state in the union, at the time of writing this article every state had a program of low cost or no cost health insurance for grandparents as caregivers.
About the Author:
To get more information about insurance for grandparents raising grandchildren, visit Mireille Green's site. It offers ideas and tips to help in difficult moments or for idea of things to do with children
No comments:
Post a Comment