Every individual should take care of purchasing a beneficial and affordable health insurance plan not only for him but for the entire family together. Due to the rising health care costs, it would really be difficult for the individual to manage all health related expenses from his personal pocket as they cost too high.
For example, hospitalization charges can cost around $5000 in California where health care costs are skyrocketing. Similarly heart surgeries, medical evacuation during emergencies are too expensive and cost approximately $100,000. If this kind of an expense has to be completely born by an individual, it may really put him in high financial stress.
Even if such serious health complications do not arise, injuries, accidents, routine physical examinations, immunizations, doctor consultation charges, prescription drugs in the case of easily curable illnesses can be very expensive, especially for an entire family.
By purchasing a family health insurance plan, you can take of the health care needs for the entire family. This includes in-patient and out-patient surgeries, hospitalization, medical tests and procedures carried out for diagnosing, consultation charges of the medical experts, expenses for medications, routine check-ups, special check-ups, vaccines and immunizations, yearly physical examination and tests, rehabilitation, maternity and pediatric care, x-ray and blood tests, and various other medical coverage.
There are various health insurance plans to choose from. HMO plans, also called Health Maintenance Organization, reimburse the expenses incurred due to the visits to a primary care expert. If he refers to a specialist, even those expenses can be claimed. Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plans allow you to visit any medical expert, clinic, or hospital which has a tie-up with the insurance provider. Point of Service plan, also called POS, covers more benefits but the out-of-pocket expenses are higher in case you choose to consult outside this plan. Health Savings Account (HAS) plans offer very extensive coverage right from cosmetic procedures, dental surgeries, eyeglasses, alternative medicines and over-the-counter drugs. Fee-For-Service health insurance plans are versatile and convenient for frequent travellers though they are more expensive than many other health insurance plans. You have the flexibility to choose any health care provider without worrying about a network.
You can research on the internet for various family health insurance plans and compare free quotes that you obtain instantly over mail. Ensure that the insurance provider is reputed, financially stable, customer friendly and processes claims very fast. The provider should offer emergency assistance all days throughout the year. Do read the user reviews on various products and services offered by the providers.
It is better to buy a family health insurance policy as early as possible since any pre-existing illnesses, injuries, diseases or other medical abnormalities at the time of applying for the plan may not be covered. In addition, every insurance buyer should read the exclusion section of the policy document. This lists those circumstances under which the insured cannot claim back expenses. For example, expenses incurred due to substance abuse or alcohol addiction, self-inflicted injuries, accidents due to drunken driving are not covered under health insurance plans.
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Health Insurance Plan for the Expectant Mothers
Expectant mothers need to secure themselves with adequate health insurance coverage plan in order to protect themselves from incurring huge expenses in case of any complications during pregnancy or child birth.
Health insurance is not only important for delivery but it would save you of incurring huge expenses for maternity care, prenatal check-ups, routine immunizations and pediatric consultations.
Reports state that about 14% of the uninsured population in America is women who are expecting a baby. Statistics reveal that in many cases, women who give birth to still-born babies or infants with low weight are uninsured.
During pregnancy, the woman needs to undergo a lot of medical check-ups to ensure that her health and also the health of the baby are fine. The check-ups, routine tests and medical procedures are pretty expensive, not to mention the hospitalization charges during delivery which can total up to even $12,000 on an average. This is in case of a non-complicated delivery state. Premature babies and cesarean deliveries cost even higher. The above situations are good enough to explain why insurance is highly mandatory for expecting women.
Women should purchase health insurance plan even before getting pregnant. This is because some of the insurance companies may refuse to grant insurance in case the woman is pregnant at the time applying the policy.
In case you become pregnant and are not insured, you need to browse the internet for companies which offer discounted health insurance plans with pregnancy coverage benefits and buy it on first priority. You may hit upon various insurance providers offering coverage for the same. Request for instant free quotes and compare the benefits and pricing before finalizing on both the insurance provider and the policy.
You may also gather more information on whether your state can be of help during pregnancy as there could be a possibility of chancing upon some federally funded programs that provide assistance based on the income levels.
You may also approach few agencies that work for women and children welfare. These organizations assist women with low income levels or children who are less than 5 years old. Food is provided on a daily basis for such low-income strata of the society.
While choosing a health insurance plan, you need to be careful about the coverage you choose. For example, if the coverage is only for the hospitalization, it may not be very beneficial for you because you may have to visit the doctor or the pediatrician quite a few times after delivery. These expenses would be skyrocketing on an already high budget if you are not covered by a suitable medical insurance plan that reimburses the charges of doctor consultation and prescription drugs.
Every insured should be aware of the terms and conditions stated in the policy especially for pregnancy coverage. For example, some of the plans require you to call shortly after getting admitted in the labor ward. Otherwise, you may have to pay a penalty. Similarly, some medical insurance plans limit the number of days of hospitalization stay that it would cover.
Health insurance is not only important for delivery but it would save you of incurring huge expenses for maternity care, prenatal check-ups, routine immunizations and pediatric consultations.
Reports state that about 14% of the uninsured population in America is women who are expecting a baby. Statistics reveal that in many cases, women who give birth to still-born babies or infants with low weight are uninsured.
During pregnancy, the woman needs to undergo a lot of medical check-ups to ensure that her health and also the health of the baby are fine. The check-ups, routine tests and medical procedures are pretty expensive, not to mention the hospitalization charges during delivery which can total up to even $12,000 on an average. This is in case of a non-complicated delivery state. Premature babies and cesarean deliveries cost even higher. The above situations are good enough to explain why insurance is highly mandatory for expecting women.
Women should purchase health insurance plan even before getting pregnant. This is because some of the insurance companies may refuse to grant insurance in case the woman is pregnant at the time applying the policy.
In case you become pregnant and are not insured, you need to browse the internet for companies which offer discounted health insurance plans with pregnancy coverage benefits and buy it on first priority. You may hit upon various insurance providers offering coverage for the same. Request for instant free quotes and compare the benefits and pricing before finalizing on both the insurance provider and the policy.
You may also gather more information on whether your state can be of help during pregnancy as there could be a possibility of chancing upon some federally funded programs that provide assistance based on the income levels.
You may also approach few agencies that work for women and children welfare. These organizations assist women with low income levels or children who are less than 5 years old. Food is provided on a daily basis for such low-income strata of the society.
While choosing a health insurance plan, you need to be careful about the coverage you choose. For example, if the coverage is only for the hospitalization, it may not be very beneficial for you because you may have to visit the doctor or the pediatrician quite a few times after delivery. These expenses would be skyrocketing on an already high budget if you are not covered by a suitable medical insurance plan that reimburses the charges of doctor consultation and prescription drugs.
Every insured should be aware of the terms and conditions stated in the policy especially for pregnancy coverage. For example, some of the plans require you to call shortly after getting admitted in the labor ward. Otherwise, you may have to pay a penalty. Similarly, some medical insurance plans limit the number of days of hospitalization stay that it would cover.
The Purpose of Health Insurance
Every individual should purchase an affordable health insurance plan to cover the expensive medical costs incurred for various health related expenses like serious health disorders or illnesses, routine check-ups, diagnosis tests, physical examinations, prescription drugs, doctor consultation and various other expenses.
The coverage benefits and costing differ from plan to plan and varies with every insurance provider. Hence, one should perform adequate research on the web and compare the free instant quotes mailed to you within seconds before finalizing on the policy.
Health insurance plans enable you to take extra care of your health. This is because, when you do routine physical examinations, if you need to pay a nominal sum to get check-ups done rather than the actual fee, you would not tend to skip these tests. Otherwise, individuals do not go for check-ups in order to avoid the expenses for medical examinations. It also gives the comfort and psychological relief that in case sudden medical expenses are huge, the insurance plan will take care of most of these expenses.
Individuals pay a specific amount either on a monthly or a quarterly basis. This is referred as premium and the fee is generally paid in advance to the insurance provider for future coverage benefits. Typically, while you purchase a health insurance policy, you are given a health insurance identity card which you present to the clinic, doctor or hospital for verification purposes. The card also has details of your insurance number and the insurance provider. In case you avail direct claims settlement facility, the hospital would send the medical expense bill to the insurance company directly for reimbursement. Hence, you are saved of the tedious procedure of filing claims with numerous proofs for claiming back your expenses.
Every insured person should be aware of the terms and conditions of coverage of the health insurance plan they purchase. For example, pre-existing conditions, which refer to diseases, illnesses or serious health disorders which exist at the time of purchase of the insurance plan would not be covered. Similarly, the exclusions section of the policy document also list those circumstances or conditions under which the insured cannot file for claims. For instance, the insurance company would not pay you for any medical expenses that arise in case of injuries or accidents due to substance abuse or alcohol addiction. Self-inflicted injuries, medical expenses arising due to suicide attempts cannot be claimed from the insurance provider.
Some health insurance plans offer full reimbursement only when any medical expert, clinic or hospital that is tied up to its network is consulted. Otherwise, the individuals may have to bear a certain percentage of the expense out of their pockets. Sometimes, insurance companies insist to inform them before getting admitted for elective surgeries in order to get full reimbursement of the medical expenses.
Every individual should purchase a health insurance plan during their early years of life in order to reap best benefits as an average individual having a fit body at the time of applying for insurance will face lesser restrictions from the insurance provider for offering coverage benefits.
The coverage benefits and costing differ from plan to plan and varies with every insurance provider. Hence, one should perform adequate research on the web and compare the free instant quotes mailed to you within seconds before finalizing on the policy.
Health insurance plans enable you to take extra care of your health. This is because, when you do routine physical examinations, if you need to pay a nominal sum to get check-ups done rather than the actual fee, you would not tend to skip these tests. Otherwise, individuals do not go for check-ups in order to avoid the expenses for medical examinations. It also gives the comfort and psychological relief that in case sudden medical expenses are huge, the insurance plan will take care of most of these expenses.
Individuals pay a specific amount either on a monthly or a quarterly basis. This is referred as premium and the fee is generally paid in advance to the insurance provider for future coverage benefits. Typically, while you purchase a health insurance policy, you are given a health insurance identity card which you present to the clinic, doctor or hospital for verification purposes. The card also has details of your insurance number and the insurance provider. In case you avail direct claims settlement facility, the hospital would send the medical expense bill to the insurance company directly for reimbursement. Hence, you are saved of the tedious procedure of filing claims with numerous proofs for claiming back your expenses.
Every insured person should be aware of the terms and conditions of coverage of the health insurance plan they purchase. For example, pre-existing conditions, which refer to diseases, illnesses or serious health disorders which exist at the time of purchase of the insurance plan would not be covered. Similarly, the exclusions section of the policy document also list those circumstances or conditions under which the insured cannot file for claims. For instance, the insurance company would not pay you for any medical expenses that arise in case of injuries or accidents due to substance abuse or alcohol addiction. Self-inflicted injuries, medical expenses arising due to suicide attempts cannot be claimed from the insurance provider.
Some health insurance plans offer full reimbursement only when any medical expert, clinic or hospital that is tied up to its network is consulted. Otherwise, the individuals may have to bear a certain percentage of the expense out of their pockets. Sometimes, insurance companies insist to inform them before getting admitted for elective surgeries in order to get full reimbursement of the medical expenses.
Every individual should purchase a health insurance plan during their early years of life in order to reap best benefits as an average individual having a fit body at the time of applying for insurance will face lesser restrictions from the insurance provider for offering coverage benefits.
How to Get Cheap Health Insurance
Health insurance are highly mandatory to protect yourself from incurring huge expenses due to expensive medical care that you may need in case of any medical emergencies, illnesses, surgeries or treatments.
A one-day hospitalization in an expensive city as California could cost up to $5000. Medical evacuation expenses are approximately worth $90,000. Heart surgeries could cost you approximately around $100,000. This is definitely not affordable from the personal pockets for most people. Hence, one should be prepared for such exigencies and protect with a beneficial health insurance coverage plan.
People generally mistake that when they are hale and hearty, they need not buy a health insurance policy. But some illnesses may have a very sudden onset. In addition, insurance companies would not cover you for those diseases or injuries which already exist at the time of applying for the policy.
There are many insurance providers offering affordable health insurance plans nowadays. You need to research on the internet to be aware of the various benefits offered by the insurance plans, and choose a suitable health insurance policy for you and your family. Most of the insurance websites send you free instant quotes mentioning the cost of buying an insurance policy.
You may choose fixed-benefits policies which cost you lower but covers the basic expenses or comprehensive coverage policies where you may have to pay higher premiums, co-payments and deductibles, but would be able to enjoy more extensive benefits.
Health insurance can be purchased for an individual, group or the entire family together. Group insurances and family health insurance plans allow you to save a lot of money.
People with lower income levels can register for the Medicaid program. If you are eligible, you can enroll your entire family into the program by submitting an application. In addition, you would be required to submit some proofs of finances. The criteria and benefits of the program may vary from one state to another. Medicaid covers eye care expenses, emergency care, doctor consultation, dental treatments, prescription drugs and many other benefits. It is a good option for self-employed people or for those individuals whose employers do not offer insurance benefits.
While finalizing on your insurance provider, gather information on the financial stability of the company by performing research on the rating, the number of complaints filed and resolved in the insurance company, the fastness of the organization in processing claims, the quality of customer support and customer friendliness during emergencies, network of tie-ups with hospitals, clinics and physicians and also user reviews about the products and services offered by the company.
While purchasing the health insurance plan, decide whether domestic coverage is enough or international health insurance plan is essential, especially if you are a frequent traveller abroad. If you have just left a job, you may even be able to extend your insurance coverage for 18 months by Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA). However, you need to pay the premium on your own.
Every insurance buyer should go through the terms and conditions of the policy carefully and be aware under which circumstances they would be covered and when they would not be reimbursed for their expenses.
A one-day hospitalization in an expensive city as California could cost up to $5000. Medical evacuation expenses are approximately worth $90,000. Heart surgeries could cost you approximately around $100,000. This is definitely not affordable from the personal pockets for most people. Hence, one should be prepared for such exigencies and protect with a beneficial health insurance coverage plan.
People generally mistake that when they are hale and hearty, they need not buy a health insurance policy. But some illnesses may have a very sudden onset. In addition, insurance companies would not cover you for those diseases or injuries which already exist at the time of applying for the policy.
There are many insurance providers offering affordable health insurance plans nowadays. You need to research on the internet to be aware of the various benefits offered by the insurance plans, and choose a suitable health insurance policy for you and your family. Most of the insurance websites send you free instant quotes mentioning the cost of buying an insurance policy.
You may choose fixed-benefits policies which cost you lower but covers the basic expenses or comprehensive coverage policies where you may have to pay higher premiums, co-payments and deductibles, but would be able to enjoy more extensive benefits.
Health insurance can be purchased for an individual, group or the entire family together. Group insurances and family health insurance plans allow you to save a lot of money.
People with lower income levels can register for the Medicaid program. If you are eligible, you can enroll your entire family into the program by submitting an application. In addition, you would be required to submit some proofs of finances. The criteria and benefits of the program may vary from one state to another. Medicaid covers eye care expenses, emergency care, doctor consultation, dental treatments, prescription drugs and many other benefits. It is a good option for self-employed people or for those individuals whose employers do not offer insurance benefits.
While finalizing on your insurance provider, gather information on the financial stability of the company by performing research on the rating, the number of complaints filed and resolved in the insurance company, the fastness of the organization in processing claims, the quality of customer support and customer friendliness during emergencies, network of tie-ups with hospitals, clinics and physicians and also user reviews about the products and services offered by the company.
While purchasing the health insurance plan, decide whether domestic coverage is enough or international health insurance plan is essential, especially if you are a frequent traveller abroad. If you have just left a job, you may even be able to extend your insurance coverage for 18 months by Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA). However, you need to pay the premium on your own.
Every insurance buyer should go through the terms and conditions of the policy carefully and be aware under which circumstances they would be covered and when they would not be reimbursed for their expenses.
Self Employed Medical Insurance
Self-employment is highly common in the modern days with baby-boomers and senior citizens starting their own smart ventures, either to get supplemental income or to keep them occupied during their retirement period or to establish their own careers and do what they always wanted to pursue during their younger days. There are many middle-aged people and young adults who opt for this kind of employment to have a career change.
Reports reveal that these self-employed individuals opt out of buying a suitable affordable health insurance plan in order to cut down the expenses on health care. They sometimes think that investing on a health insurance policy is a waste of money and this can be used for other useful purposes in the business. This is a huge mistake as these individuals do not sometimes realize what kind of expenses they would incur in case they are not covered by a suitable health insurance plan.
Hospitalization charges could sky rocket to thousands of dollars and it is even worse in case you end up in sudden surgeries or you are in need of emergency medical attention. Typically, a heart surgery could cost you about $100,000. It is not easy for an average person to bear this kind of an expense from their personal pocket.
These are good enough reasons for self-employed individuals to purchase a suitable self-employed health insurance. This would help these motivated individuals to secure their future peacefully and stop worrying about incurring huge unexpected sudden medical expenses in case serious illnesses crop up.
The number of self-employed individuals is not less in number. About 63% of the working population fall into this category or work in small businesses where the employers do not offer health insurance coverage. About 25% of the self-employed population is over 50 years which also means that they are highly prone to health disorders due to their old age. Hence, health insurance plan coverage is highly required for this population.
Every self-employed individual can protect himself or herself by medical insurance benefits through affordable individual health insurance plans or get insured through their own business corpus funds or get covered by their spouse’s insurance policy by getting registered as a dependant, or register in a federally run insurance program.
For example, senior citizens above 65 years are eligible for coverage under Medicare plans even if they choose to work further. However, they also need to have supplemental health insurance coverage for higher expenses as Medicare would not cover for many other health care expenses which are huge.
If you have just resigned from a corporate job, continue with the same health insurance scheme provided by your employer for a while through the COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act) scheme. This may not be feasible for a long time as you have to bear the premium costs on your own and the corporate premiums may be slightly on the higher side for you. But do not discontinue the health insurance coverage until you have found another suitable medical insurance plan.
Reports reveal that these self-employed individuals opt out of buying a suitable affordable health insurance plan in order to cut down the expenses on health care. They sometimes think that investing on a health insurance policy is a waste of money and this can be used for other useful purposes in the business. This is a huge mistake as these individuals do not sometimes realize what kind of expenses they would incur in case they are not covered by a suitable health insurance plan.
Hospitalization charges could sky rocket to thousands of dollars and it is even worse in case you end up in sudden surgeries or you are in need of emergency medical attention. Typically, a heart surgery could cost you about $100,000. It is not easy for an average person to bear this kind of an expense from their personal pocket.
These are good enough reasons for self-employed individuals to purchase a suitable self-employed health insurance. This would help these motivated individuals to secure their future peacefully and stop worrying about incurring huge unexpected sudden medical expenses in case serious illnesses crop up.
The number of self-employed individuals is not less in number. About 63% of the working population fall into this category or work in small businesses where the employers do not offer health insurance coverage. About 25% of the self-employed population is over 50 years which also means that they are highly prone to health disorders due to their old age. Hence, health insurance plan coverage is highly required for this population.
Every self-employed individual can protect himself or herself by medical insurance benefits through affordable individual health insurance plans or get insured through their own business corpus funds or get covered by their spouse’s insurance policy by getting registered as a dependant, or register in a federally run insurance program.
For example, senior citizens above 65 years are eligible for coverage under Medicare plans even if they choose to work further. However, they also need to have supplemental health insurance coverage for higher expenses as Medicare would not cover for many other health care expenses which are huge.
If you have just resigned from a corporate job, continue with the same health insurance scheme provided by your employer for a while through the COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act) scheme. This may not be feasible for a long time as you have to bear the premium costs on your own and the corporate premiums may be slightly on the higher side for you. But do not discontinue the health insurance coverage until you have found another suitable medical insurance plan.
Cosmetic Surgery - Are You Covered By Health Insurance?
Cosmetic surgery, in its true sense, is an elective procedure that is performed to reshape or enhance body parts a patient may find unflattering. Since cosmetic surgery has an intrinsic aesthetic intent, it is usually not covered by health insurance. The argument put forth by insurance firms is that a person can very well do without cosmetic surgery, and the procedure is used for mere beautification instead of being a life saving surgery. On the other hand, reconstructive surgery is generally covered by health insurance, though the extent of coverage may vary a lot from one case to another.
In many ways, the answer to the insurance question lies in discerning whether the plastic surgery procedure is cosmetic or reconstructive. For instance, abdominoplasty (or tummy tuck), when performed on an obese patient to guard the patient against heart problems, is eligible for health insurance. Breast reduction surgery, when carried out with the intent of reducing weight of the breasts to curtail orthopedic pain, is typically covered by health insurance. On the other hand, breast implants or augmentations are performed with the aesthetic aspect in mind and, therefore, don't normally qualify for an insurance.
There is a fine line dividing the two categories of plastic surgery, namely cosmetic and reconstructive surgery, as far as eligibility for insurance is concerned. For instance, eyelid surgery, when performed to attain an aesthetic enhancement is considered cosmetic and ineligible for insurance. The same procedure may be covered by insurance if the eyelids are drooping to the extent of obscuring a patient's vision. The hard fact remains that most of the plastic surgery procedures are performed with an aesthetical intent, in order to enhance alluring portions of the body.
To summarise, plastic surgery that is performed to improve function instead of aesthetics is normally eligible for an insurance cover. However, it's best to discuss your case with an insurance agent, in order to determine if you are eligible for an insurance cover.
In many ways, the answer to the insurance question lies in discerning whether the plastic surgery procedure is cosmetic or reconstructive. For instance, abdominoplasty (or tummy tuck), when performed on an obese patient to guard the patient against heart problems, is eligible for health insurance. Breast reduction surgery, when carried out with the intent of reducing weight of the breasts to curtail orthopedic pain, is typically covered by health insurance. On the other hand, breast implants or augmentations are performed with the aesthetic aspect in mind and, therefore, don't normally qualify for an insurance.
There is a fine line dividing the two categories of plastic surgery, namely cosmetic and reconstructive surgery, as far as eligibility for insurance is concerned. For instance, eyelid surgery, when performed to attain an aesthetic enhancement is considered cosmetic and ineligible for insurance. The same procedure may be covered by insurance if the eyelids are drooping to the extent of obscuring a patient's vision. The hard fact remains that most of the plastic surgery procedures are performed with an aesthetical intent, in order to enhance alluring portions of the body.
To summarise, plastic surgery that is performed to improve function instead of aesthetics is normally eligible for an insurance cover. However, it's best to discuss your case with an insurance agent, in order to determine if you are eligible for an insurance cover.
School Traveling Safety Tips
We have a list of tips to help keep your child safe as they travel to and from school.
Walking or biking to school is a great way to get in a little exercise. But safety rules are very important.
Here is a list of our tips for
Walking or biking to school is a great way to get in a little exercise. But safety rules are very important.
Here is a list of our tips for
- children that walk to and from school
- children who ride their bikes to and from school
- children who are driven to and from school
Traveling To and From School Safety Tips
- Make sure your child's walk to a school is a safe route with well-trained adult crossing guards at every intersection.
- Make sure to always remain in clear view of the bus driver.
- Do not move around on the bus.
- All children under 13 years of age should ride in the rear seat of vehicles. If you must drive more children than can fit in the rear seat (when carpooling, for example), move the front-seat passenger’s seat as far back as possible and have the child ride in a booster seat if the seat belts do not fit properly without it.
- Ride on the right, in the same direction as auto traffic.
- Use appropriate hand signals.
- Respect traffic lights and stop signs.
- Know the "rules of the road." www.aap.org/family/bicycle.htm
- Be realistic about your child's pedestrian skills. Because small children are impulsive and less cautious around traffic, carefully consider whether or not your child is ready to walk to school without adult supervision.
- In neighborhoods with higher levels of traffic, consider starting a “walking school bus,” in which an adult accompanies a group of neighborhood children walking to school.
- If your children are young or are walking to a new school, walk with them the first week to make sure they know the route and can do it safely.
- Check to see that no other traffic is coming before crossing the street.
- All passengers should wear a seat belt and/or an age- and size-appropriate car safety seat or booster seat.
- Your child should ride in a car safety seat with a harness as long as possible and then ride in a belt-positioning booster seat. Your child is ready for a booster seat when she has reached the top weight or height allowed for her seat, her shoulders are above the top harness slots, or her ears have reached the top of the seat.
- Wait for the bus to stop before approaching it from the curb.
- Remember that rolling backpacks still must be carried up stairs, and they may be difficult to roll in snow.
- Children should always board and exit the bus at locations that provide safe access to the bus or to the school building.
- Your child should ride in a belt-positioning booster seat until the vehicle's seat belt fits properly (usually when the child reaches about 4' 9" in height and is between 8 to 12 years of age). This means that the child is tall enough to sit against the vehicle seat back with her legs bent at the knees and feet hanging down and the shoulder belt lies across the middle of the chest and shoulder, not the neck or throat; the lap belt is low and snug across the thighs, and not the stomach.
- Remember that many crashes occur while novice teen drivers are going to and from school. You should require seat belt use, limit the number of teen passengers, do not allow eating, drinking, cell phone conversations or texting to prevent driver distraction; and limit nighttime driving and driving in inclement weather. Familiarize yourself with your state’s graduated driver license law and consider the use of a parent-teen driver agreement to facilitate the early driving learning process. . For a sample parent-teen driver agreement, see the last two pages of the AAP Policy Statement, "The Teen Driver."
- Always wear a bicycle helmet, no matter how short or long the ride.
- If your child’s school bus has lap/shoulder seat belts, make sure your child uses one at all times when in the bus. If your child’s school bus does not have lap/shoulder belts, encourage the school to buy or lease buses with lap/shoulder belts.
- Bright colored clothing will make your child more visible to drivers.
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