Sept. 25, 2009

 In going door to door throughout Ingham County, I have heard from countless residents who are worried about providing quality insurance for their children and protecting their families. Too many families have told me that they are working harder for less and struggle each day to make ends meet. As a parent myself, I understand the importance of quality insurance and how hard this economic downturn has hit families – especially young families.

      Providing quality insurance for our families and making sure they are protected in case of an illness or accident is imperative. It is especially important for new families to do a little planning to make sure they are getting the quality protection they need at a price they can afford.

      If your family is about to welcome a new addition and you are looking for health insurance, there are a few things you should be sure your insurance covers. Find out if it covers prenatal and neo-natal screenings, vitamins and tests. Make sure the policy covers pediatric care and delivery procedures. If you already have insurance, be sure to evaluate your options. If both parents have benefits through work, take a look to see what is covered and what is not. Under Michigan law, a newborn child's primary health insurance coverage will come from the parent whose birthday is earliest in the year.

      If you cannot afford the costs of health insurance for your children, MIChild may be able to help you. Many participants can get checkups, dental care, vaccinations and other services through HMOs and other health plans throughout Michigan. The monthly premium for MIChild is $10 regardless of the number of children in a family. MIChild also has no co-pays and no deductibles. In order to qualify, a family must meet income requirements, be a U.S. citizen, live in Michigan, be 18 or younger and have no health insurance.

      You should also keep other forms of insurance in mind. Be sure to notify your insurance company that you recently had a child, especially if you are building an addition to your home or if you have purchased a larger vehicle. Shop around to make sure that you find the best possible deal. And if you have life insurance, you should take the costs of child care into account, including health care and education, when deciding how much coverage to purchase.

      Finally, if you have a dispute with your insurance company over this or any other issue, the Michigan Office of Financial and Insurance Regulation (OFIR) recommends that you take the following steps:

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  • Speak with a management representative to try to find a solution.
  • Explain the problem in a calm, courteous manner.
  • Be prepared to provide policy and claim numbers and any documents that verify or explain the problem.
  • Provide accurate dates, amounts and as many facts as you can recall.

      If this does not resolve the problem, you can contact OFIR Consumer Services to ask questions or to file a written complaint. You can contact them toll-free at (877) 999-6442, or visit their Web site at www.michigan.gov/ofir.

      Everyone wants to keep their families safe and healthy. With some careful planning, we can be sure that our loved ones have the protection they need.