Plan Now for Back to School Health Checkups, Vaccines—and More

Moms and Dads—it’s time to get your child ready for back to school.

Whether that means daycare, preschool, or K-12, Parkland HEALTHfirst (STAR Medicaid) and KIDSfirst (CHIP) can help!

Your HEALTHfirst or KIDSfirst coverage offers:

• well-child checkups
• vaccines
• sports physical exams
• vision exams and eyeglasses
• dental checkups
• ADHD & behavioral health
• hearing tests and hearing aids

Well-Child Checkups

Babies and toddlers should see the doctor several times a year.

After age three, most children will need a checkup only once a year. Summer is the perfect time to schedule their yearly exam.

During a well-child checkup, the doctor will:

• give an overall physical exam
• measure weight and height
• ask about any concerns
• give vaccines (shots) if needed
• give other important tests and services
• refer your child for diagnosis and treatment, if necessary

If you are a member of Parkland HEALTHfirst or KIDSfirst, there is no cost to you for your child’s checkup.

Vaccines (Shots)

If your child attends daycare or school, they will need to be up to date on their vaccines.

Vaccines help to protect your child from serious health problems.

Your doctor will give vaccines to your child during their well-child exam, if needed. Be sure to bring your child’s vaccine record to every doctor’s visit.

Sports Physical Exams

Does your son or daughter play a school sport, such as soccer, basketball, or volleyball?

Many leagues or school teams require the players to have health insurance. They also require players to get a sports physical exam. This is different than a well-child checkup.

If your child (age 3 to 19) is enrolled in HEALTHfirst or KIDSfirst, they can get one sports physical exam per school year as part of the plan’s value-added services. There is no cost to you or your child. *Limitations and restrictions may apply.

Vision Exams and Eyeglasses

Good vision is important everywhere, but especially in the classroom. Schedule a vision checkup before school starts. This will help you to make sure your child can see close up and far away without any problems.

HEALTHfirst and KIDSfirst insurance includes:

• an eye exam and prescription eyeglasses once every 12 months
• more services if your child’s vision changes

Your child can get a $100 allowance every two years for frames as part of your plan’s value-added services. *Limitations and restrictions may apply.

Ready to find an eye doctor and eyeglass store in the Parkland HEALTHfirst or KIDSfirst plan network?

Call Avēsis at 1-866-678-7113 or go to their website.

Dental Checkups

Your child’s HEALTHfirst or KIDSfirst plan covers visits to the dentist every six months. You should start taking your child to the dentist when they are six months old.

Regular checkups help to prevent tooth decay. These exams also let the dentist fix any small problems before they get bigger.

Do you need to find a dentist near you?

Or do you have questions about HEALTHfirst or KIDSfirst dental coverage?

Call your child’s dental provider:

• DentaQuest: call 1-800-516-0165 or Find a Dentist
• MCNA Dental: call 1-855-691-6262 or Find a Dentist
• UnitedHealthcare Dental: call 1-800-822-5353 or Find a Dentist

ADHD & Behavioral Health Management

In the classroom, children are expected to focus on their work—and their teachers.

Does your child have trouble following instructions or paying attention when someone is speaking? If so, you might wonder if they have attention deficit disorder (ADD) or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). There are several tests your doctor can order to check your child’s overall health and potential ADD/ADHD symptoms.

To learn more or schedule a test, talk to your doctor. If diagnosed, PCHP members can earn rewards by managing their ADHD.

PCHP also has a behavioral health program, with help for problems like depression or substance abuse. Contact Carelon Behavioral Health to learn more:

• STAR Medicaid /CHIP: 1-800-945-4644
• CHIP Perinate Newborn: 1-888-814-2352

English/Spanish interpreter services available 24 hours/day, 7 days/week.

Hearing Tests & Hearing Aids

School-age hearing tests are an important way to identify childhood hearing loss that wasn’t detected at birth.

A hearing screening is a quick test that your child will pass or fail. If they pass, then they show no signs of hearing loss. If they fail, they will need more in-depth hearing testing. You should see someone trained to do hearing screenings, like an audiologist, nurse, or teacher.

A hearing evaluation, also called an audiologic evaluation, is a complete hearing test. You should see an audiologist for a hearing evaluation.

Find an audiologist near you.

Have questions about how HEALTHfirst or KIDSfirst can help with back-to-school checkups?

Call Member Services:

HEALTHfirst STAR Medicaid: 1-888-672-2277

KIDSfirst CHIP/CHIP Perinate: 1-888-814-2352

(TTY 7-1-1)

8 am - 5 pm CST, Monday - Friday (except state holidays)

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