A Reader Asks: How Can I Get Health Coverage For My Grandchildren?
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Q. My son has lost his job and my grandchildren, ages 5 and 6, are without health insurance. I am a retired schoolteacher and might be able to afford coverage for them. What are my options?
A. Your grandchildren have a couple of coverage possibilities. Assuming your son鈥檚 income is low or non-existent now because he鈥檚 out of work, the kids would likely be eligible for coverage under their state Medicaid or CHIP program for low-income children. , but it鈥檚 typically between (currently $39,580 to $49,475 for a 3-person family).
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If the kids don鈥檛 qualify for Medicaid or CHIP, all three of them may qualify for subsidized family coverage on the state marketplace, says Karen Pollitz, a senior fellow at the Kaiser Family Foundation (KHN is an editorially independent program of the foundation). Under the health law, your son鈥檚 loss of on-the-job health insurance creates a 鈥溾 for him to sign up for coverage there.聽If his estimated income for this year will be less than (currently $78,120 for a family of three) he may qualify for subsidies.
If it鈥檚 just the kids鈥 coverage you鈥檙e concerned about, you can investigate child-only policies on the state marketplace. Log onto to get connected to your state marketplace and find details about child-only plans as well as family coverage and Medicaid/CHIP.
Finally, if you have private retiree coverage, it鈥檚 possible–but unlikely–that you could insure your grandchildren as dependents on your own plan, says Pollitz.
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