Last Day To Enroll Children In Government's Discounted Healthcare Insurance Plan

March 1 is the last day that Lake Elsinore and Wildomar parents can sign on for more affordable health insurance for their kids with pre-existing medical conditions.

During the open enrollment period, which began Jan. 1 and ends today, parents can sign up their children for more affordable health insurance as a result of President Obama's federal health care reform plan and AB 2244.

Under the plan, children with pre-existing conditions cannot be denied coverage -- they also cannot be charged rates that are more than double the rates of healthy kids, according to the Californa Department of Insurance.

Parents of healthy children without insurance should also sign their kids up during this period; kids who aren't signed up during open enrollment periods may be subject to a 20 percent surcharge on their insurance rates for a full year, the California Department of Insurance stated in a news release.

"One of the most important changes that federal health care reform has initiated is allowing for children with pre-existing conditions to attain health coverage," said California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones. "This initial open enrollment window is critical. ... Parents should take full advantage of it by signing their children up for coverage."

"Under my new law, kids can receive the health care they need, even if they have a pre-existing condition," said Assemblyman Mike Feuer, who authored AB 2244. "But it's crucial that parents act during this open enrollment period by signing up their children for health insurance. If they don't act by March 1, covering their kids could be much more expensive."

The new law, which has been in effect since January 1, gives California children access to affordable care and a healthy future by ensuring that certain children cannot be denied coverage or priced out of the market. It also prohibits insurers that sell individual market policies in California from refusing to sell or renew coverage to children with pre-existing conditions - it also bans insurers from the individual market for five years if they do not sell policies to children.

For more information, visit www.insurance.ca.gov. Parents can also call CDI's consumer hotline at 1-800-927-HELP or the state health insurance hotline at 1-888-466-2219 with any questions or concerns. More information is also available at http://finder.healthcare.gov/ (or www.cuidadodesalud.gov for Spanish speakers).