Description

• The Health Choice program (NCHC) provides North Carolina families with health insurance coverage for their children. Members receive reduced-cost coverage. The primary goal of NCHC is to ensure that uninsured children are able to receive the medical care needed not only to treat illness or injury but also to promote general wellness. Improving or maintaining good health in children is essential so that they are able to effectively function in both school and work activities, according to the state's Division of Medical Assistance.
  
  

Eligibility

• For children to be covered under Health Choice, they must be North Carolina residents between the ages of 6 and 18. In addition to these age requirements, the family's income must not exceed 200 percent of the federal poverty level. It's important that potential members do not assume their children cannot be covered if their income is slightly above the 200 percent limit. Certain deductions, including child care and a work-related expense for each family member who is employed, can be applied to lower their income level.
  
  

Features

• Several preventative, ambulatory and hospital procedures and treatments are covered under the Health Choice program. Examples of covered services include doctor visits, prescription coverage, lab tests, vision, dental, physical therapy, hospitalization and hospice care. Children with special needs can receive other forms of medical care covered under Health Choice. Although families must pay copayments for certain services, those with a poverty level below 150 percent pay less. For example, they are responsible for paying a $10 copay for physician visits, whereas those with a poverty level above 150 percent pay a $25 copay.
  
  

Considerations

• Before North Carolina residents apply for the Health Choice program, they should first see if they are eligible for Medicaid. If they are not and decide to pursue NCHC coverage, it's important they know what medical services are not covered in the program. Uncovered services include maternity care, medically unnecessary procedures, dental braces, experimental treatments and transportation expenses. Residents who have an increased income change while their children are in the NCHC program can keep them covered for an additional year; however, they will be required to pay full premium rates, according to the North Carolina Division of Medical Assistance.
  
  

Applying

• Families interested in applying for the North Carolina Health Choice program have a number of options. They can apply in-person at their local Department of Social Services or mail in a printed application available on the Division of Medical Assistance's website. Disabled applicants can request that a county representative assist them with the process during a home visit. The Division of Medical Assistance requires applicants to supply several forms of documentation to verify their financial status, including bank statements, pay stubs, list of assets and identification documents.