Originally Posted by MG&Lsmom:
Does your state have insurance? If all your bills are separate, you may be able to qualify for a reduced rate or even almost free care for your kids. The plans normally aren't the best, but it might help. When DH was between jobs and we had no insurance for 3 months, it cost me $12/child/month to get the covered through our state. We also qualified for subsidized premiums once he did get covered, but it wasn't any cheaper than what his employer offered to cover the whole family. BTW, we pay the same for 5 people, with $7500 in annual deductibles before they start paying for anything but a physical. My pap smear cost me $600, and another $450 for my yearly blood work.
The law states that now insurance companies MUST pay for wellness things, like physicals, pap smears, etc. At least that is what I have been told by the insurance people I have been talking to....and that has been a lot of them.