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A September 2025 study in JAMA reveals that by the time they turn 18, 61% of U.S. children will have at some point been enrolled in Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), while nearly half (42%) will have experienced periods without any coverage.
For many families, public health coverage is constant throughout childhood—but losing it can happen faster than expected. Medicaid and CHIP are vital lifelines that help millions of kids get regular checkups, vaccines and emergency care, but eligibility can change as income or circumstances shift.
When that happens, or when families need more comprehensive benefits, affordable marketplace plans can help keep coverage consistent.
When One Net Isn’t Enough: Private Insurance to the Rescue
Private insurance, especially plans sold on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace, can be a practical fallback for families who lose public coverage or want more choice. These plans often make it easier to see different doctors, tap into larger hospital networks and get regular access to specialists.
Many marketplace plans offer cost-sharing subsidies for eligible households, which help lower premiums and out-of-pocket expenses. Of course, private plans also have trade-offs: deductibles, copays, provider restrictions and premium fluctuations. For many families, combining public coverage and fallback private plans (or switching between them as eligibility changes) may become the practical path.
Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente is known for combining competitive pricing, integrated care and strong customer satisfaction. What sets Kaiser apart is its integrated model: Kaiser runs its own hospitals and medical offices, which can reduce administrative fragmentation and ease care coordination.
For a family switching from Medicaid or CHIP, Kaiser may offer smoother transitions among providers and better continuity. The trade-off is that its network is limited to Kaiser facilities, meaning access to outside specialists may be restricted in places where Kaiser’s presence is sparse.
Aetna
Aetna is another insurer to keep on your radar. It earns praise from Forbes Advisor for having fewer complaints about its individual plans, suggesting customers are mostly happy with how it handles coverage and claims. For families who want steady, hassle-free insurance, that dependability can matter a lot.
Aetna participates in multiple marketplace exchanges, providing a range of metal-level plans, which allows flexibility in balancing premium and out-of-pocket costs. While its provider networks are broader than Kaiser’s in many markets, network breadth and specialist access will still vary by locality, so it’s critical to check whether your preferred doctors are in-network.
Oscar Health
Oscar is more of a newer, tech-forward entrant, often emphasizing digital tools, telemedicine and member-friendly interfaces. Oscar’s telehealth tools and app-driven claim handling can appeal to families accustomed to digital-first services—a useful perk for managing care transitions between public and private coverage.
However, in more rural or provider-scarce markets, Oscar may have limited in-network specialist reach, and plan offerings might be fewer depending on where you live.
Bottom Line
Public insurance remains a crucial safety net for millions of children—but it doesn’t always fill the gaps. For families who want more flexibility or greater network access, private plans can be a useful supplement.
The right strategy may be a blend: using public coverage where available and shifting into affordable private coverage when it provides more stability or broader access.