Residents in Kansas can now sign up for child-only health insurance. The legislation, signed into law in early June allows children  under the age of 19 to be included in insurance plans provided there is no similar, child-only coverage available at the county level. Many Kansas insurance providers stopped selling insurance to those under the age of 19 and this new law fills a void.

Any minor unable to purchase or obtain individual health insurance can now be included in the state’s high risk pool which is handled by the Kansas Health Insurance Association, or KHIA. “Now, those families that need a child-only policy can seek coverage through the KHIA plan if they meet the new eligibility requirements,” Sandy Praeger, Commissioner of Insurance, said in a news release. “It provides a starting point for a Kansas-based solution to a coverage problem. We appreciate the understanding of Gov. Brownback and the Kansas Legislature in supporting this change.”

In New York, parents with children under the age of 19 who need health insurance can not be denied health coverage due to pre-existing conditions thanks to a new law signed in late April. If a parent applies for insurance and is approved, then the child will also be approved.

If a parent is not applying for coverage, the application is known as a “child-only plan.” SB-11-128 mandates that child-only plans will be sold only during two open enrollment periods during the year — the month of August for this year. Starting in 2012, it will be the month of January and July. If a parent is not signing up, then the best time to sign up for “child-only” policies in New York is during August which is the open enrollment period. The situation is similar to Kansas and other states looking for a temporary solution until health care reform takes full effect. “The new law provides a temporary solution until 2014, when all health plans are required by law to provide coverage without consideration of health status,” Praeger said.