Health Insurance For Single Moms In Ohio

Parenting alone without the support of a partner is daunting. Balancing parenting duties and managing expenses is an overwhelming job that every single mom in Ohio has to go through. Having health insurance can potentially lighten your financial load and allow you to access medical services without breaking the bank. This guide will help you explore different health insurance plans and programs available to single moms in Ohio that provide much-needed assistance and give them support during their challenging journey.

How Does Health Insurance For Single Moms Work?

Health insurance plans are a contract that requires your insurance company to cover all or a part of your healthcare costs and medical expenses in exchange for monthly payments that are known as insurance premiums. Every healthcare plan provides different types as well as amounts of healthcare coverage to individuals; however, the typical medical coverage that you can receive from health insurance plans includes doctor visits, prescription drugs, hospital stays, and other healthcare services. Comprehensive health insurance helps single moms to cover dental care, mental health care, vision care, occupation and physical therapy, behavioral healthcare, and many more services.

What Are The Different Health Insurance For Single Moms In Ohio?

Following is the list of different health insurance plans for single moms in Ohio.

1. Ohio Healthy Families

The Medicaid program in Ohio is popularly known as the Ohio Healthy Families. Ohio Healthy Families offers healthcare coverage as well as long-term care services for low-income Ohioans including single moms. The program covers uninsured households with children below 19 years of age.

Single moms who qualify for the program can access important supportive services such as doctor visits, hospital care, prescriptions for mental health services, dental and vision care, and many more. Ohio residents can apply for the Medicaid program by visiting the Ohio Benefits Portal.

2. Ohio Healthy Start (SCHIP)

The Healthy Start Program also known as SCHIP offers healthcare coverage to children who are less than 19 years of age including pregnant women based on their household income. Single moms can apply for the Healthy Start program for their uninsured children if they have a household income less than 211% of the federal poverty level.

Pregnant single moms who want to get coverage under the Healthy Start program should make sure their household income is less than 205% of the federal poverty level. Even though families receive free coverage under the program a lot of families who fall under the higher income bracket have to copay a small amount ranging between $3 to $5 respectively.

3. The Children’s Buy-in (CBI)

The Children’s Buy-In Program is designed for kids who are not insured and are living in a household with an income less than 300% of the federal poverty level. To qualify for the program single moms need to make sure their children are uninsured for a minimum of six months before enrolling in the CBI program. The monthly premium of the program may vary according to the household’s monthly income. Single moms can use the online portal of the program to solve their doubts and concerns.

4. Ohio Medicare

Ohio Medicare is a federally funded health insurance program that is available to residents who are 65 years or older. The original Medicare Part A or Part B helps single moms and other eligible residents to cover the medical and hospital costs. The Medicare Advantage in Ohio combines Part A and Part B and may also bundle Medicare Part D and other supportive services.

The eligibility criteria of the program require single moms to be a minimum of 65 years old, be a citizen of the United States, and receive Social Security benefits for a minimum of 24 months. The Medicare costs in Ohio are based on various factors such as your assets and resources, income level, extra coverage, and so on. Several older adults in Ohio are enrolling in Medicare programs every day to get coverage for their healthcare services. Whether you should opt for original Medicare Part A and Part B, Medicare Advantage Part C, Prescription Drug Part D, or Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) depends on your healthcare needs.

5. COBRA

Workers and their eligible family members who lose their healthcare coverage due to certain circumstances like voluntary and involuntary job loss, transition between jobs, reduction in working hours, divorce, death or other altering life events can continue to receive health benefits from their current health plan through the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act. Single moms who have lost their jobs because of the aforementioned reasons can continue to receive health coverage opportunities and might be eligible for this program.

6. Affordable Health Insurance

A comprehensive healthcare reform law that was enacted in March 2010 is known as the Affordable Care Act or Obamacare. The objective of the Affordable Care Act is to ensure affordable health insurance is accessible to all. The law offers people subsidies and premium tax credits provided their household income is somewhere between 100% to 400% of the federal poverty level.

The Affordable Care Act helped to expand the Medicaid program and made sure all adults who are earning less than 138% of the federal poverty level can receive healthcare coverage. The state of Ohio is participating in this program and is expanding their Medicaid programs for adults therefore single moms can receive coverage. The open enrollment for the Obamacare program runs from November to December 15. Single moms can enroll in the ACA program or change their plan in case of a life event and qualify for the special enrollment period.

Conclusion

There are multiple health insurance plans for single moms in Ohio designed to meet their and their children’s needs. While some plans restrict their choices of healthcare professionals, some may require them to use the healthcare plans’ network of doctors, pharmacists, hospitals, or medical service providers. There is a lot to consider before getting started with a health insurance plan. Single moms need to find savings, compare their medical needs with the insurance plan, and make sure the plan fits their budget. Single moms in Ohio will find the aforementioned plans a right fit for them irrespective of their income level.