Major health insurance companies nationwide dropped their child-only policies
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Major health insurance companies nationwide dropped their child-only policies

Date: September 23, 2010
By: Molly Boland
State Capitol Bureau

Intro: 
Hundreds of Missouri children could potentially lose their health insurence. Molly Boland has more from Jefferson City.
RunTime:  0:47
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap:  About fifteen hundred Missouri children may not be able to renew their policies once they expire.

That's because many insurance companies have stopped selling child-only policies.

Missouri Department of Insurance director Travis Ford says the companies hope to avoid the cost of covering children with pre-existing medical conditions.

Actuality:  FORD.WAV
Run Time:  00:15
Description: "State insurance departments are dealing with this in virtually every state and like us they're working with these carriers to try to work out a negotiation to where they can continue offering this product in a way that's finacially feasible for both the insurance company and the consumer."

Ford says there are other policy options, but the Missouri Department of Insurence would still like the child-only policies to be availible, as they have been beneficial for some.

From the State Captiol, I'm Molly Boland.

Intro: 
As many as one thousand five hundred Missouri children are in danger of losing health insurence. Molly Boland has more from Jefferson City.
RunTime:  0:35
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap:  Nearly fifteen hundred Missouri children may not be able to renew their healthcare policies thanks to insurence comapnies that are no longer offering child-only policies.

Missouri Department of Insurance director Travis Ford says the department is engaged in negotiations with the companies to encourage them to bring these policies back.

Actuality:  FORD2.WAV
Run Time:  00:07
Description: "The insurers need some guidance from us on some changes that they would like to make to protect themselves financially but still keep this product available."

For the time being, Ford says families should try to find group policies that allow customers to add dependents.

From Jefferson City, I'm Molly Boland