Babies between 1 day old and 60 days old cannot get private individual health care insurance plans

Children don't have many choices for individual health care plans.


by Peter Stern

We are having a big problem in Texas with providing coverage for everyone. Here is a case in point that I know many people are not aware of when it comes to insuring our children. It also is happening throughout the nation.

First off, there is only one insurance firm in Texas that will cover children. That company is Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas. No other company will provide an individual plan for a child. How is that possible? Hard to imagine, but it's true!

A newborn baby in Texas cannot get individual private health insurance until they are 60 days old and it is called temporary insurance or SelecTEMP PPO Coverage, which is good for a 6-month period. It may be renewed for another 6 months. So, between the ages of 1 day old through 59 days old a baby cannot get individual insurance coverage. The temporary insurance premium for a young baby is $219 per month, which is more than the premium of a 15 year old child. We are told it is because a newborn baby has more health needs.

Adults also may get temporary insurance. If you are in the range of 60 days old to 65 years old, you may apply for temporary insurance for a 6-month period.

Only when a young child reaches the age of 1 year old may the parents get a full term individual health care plan for the child. It is called Blue Pathways and it is only provided by one company BCBS of Texas and it may be applied for and/or renewed until the age of 18.

Currently, newborn babies cannot be provided a full individual health care plan. So, my question is that we were told Obamacare is supposed to cover EVERYONE; however, private health care does not cover a little newborn. Why? Either the government and private industry overlooked or premeditatedly refused to insure newborns.

Currently, newborn babies cannot be provided a full individual health care plan until they are 1 year old. It is a problem that needs resolution. I have written President Obama, Governor Perry and Texas lawmakers and filed a complaint with the Texas Department of Insurance about this issue.



Here is a quick response from the Office of Governor Rick Perry: