Premiums may undermine coverage guarantee for kids The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — Health insurance cuts a dividing line right through the Thompson family.
Parents Mary and Joe have coverage, as does older daughter Sarah. But siblings Andrew and Emily have been turned down due to medical conditions even though both lead fairly normal and active lives in Overland Park, Kan., a Kansas City suburb.
Starting later this year, President Barack Obama's health care law requires insurers to accept all children regardless of medical history. But the law doesn't limit what the companies can charge, and the Thompsons fear that could leave them in the same predicament: still no insurance for two children because it costs too much.
"If that's the way it's going to shake out, it's not really that helpful," said Mary Thompson.
She checked with her insurer recently and was told Andrew probably would have to have his own policy. "I could be looking at a $500-a-month policy for just the two of them," she said.
The Thompsons buy their own health insurance. Joe is a self-employed home remodeling contractor and Mary helps with the business.
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