4 Doctors Your Children Should Be Seeing By Their 5th Birthday

Budgeting and planning how money will be spent should always consider health care costs for you and your family. Ensuring that your child enjoys good health starts with putting money aside to cover cost shares and co-pays. Here are three doctors your child should see before they turn five years old.

1. Primary Care

From infancy, every child should have a pediatrician that they see for regular well-child checkups. The pediatrician becomes the child’s primary care provider. Many insurance companies require a primary care provider (pediatrician) to refer the child for specialty appointments if necessary.

In 2023, according to Grow Therapy, about 83% of therapists saw an increase in first-time appointments. If your child needs any type of therapy, the pediatrician is the first step in getting a referral. Take your child to an in-network provider to save some money on co-pays and cost shares.

2. Pediatric Dentist

According to the American Dental Association, the first time a child sees the dentist should be shortly after their first birthday. A pediatric dentist is a dentist who specializes in treating children. A good oral hygiene program, including regular dental visits, is a must to ensure good oral health.

In most cases, dental insurance will cover preventive treatments and semi-annual exams. However, depending on your plan, you may have to cover some out-of-pocket expenses. It is important that you plan ahead to have the money you need to ensure your child gets the proper dental care.

4. Eye Care

Before the age of five (typically the age when a child starts their formal elementary education), your child should have an eye exam. Most vision insurance plans will pay in full for an annual eye exam for your child. If you don’t have vision insurance, put some money on the side to cover the cost of these necessary exams.

Early detection of vision problems can save your child a lot of frustration. Vision problems can affect learning. Ensuring your child’s eye health from an early age will give them the advantage that they need to do well in school. Having money available to invest in your child’s eye health can reduce stress and worry.

Special Circumstances

There are other healthcare providers that your child may need to see beyond the three providers mentioned. For example, your pediatrician may recommend your child be seen by a specialist. Some common specialists that children are often referred to include ear, nose, and throat specialists.

Specialty providers focus on a specific field of medicine. Most insurance plans will cover the cost of specialty care with caveats. For example, for most health insurance plans, you can’t make an appointment directly; there needs to be a medical referral on file from the primary care provider. You may also face higher cost shares and co-pays with a specialty provider.

To ensure your child’s good health, it is essential that you prepare for medical costs by saving money specifically earmarked for those costs. Many parents who divorce often find this topic of who should pay for what medical cost to be one of the toughest topics to overcome. According to Finlaw, there are about 1,000 attorneys in Texas alone who practice family law because of difficulties managing custody problems like paying medical costs.

Ultimately, getting your child preventive healthcare is much more affordable. Budgeting and putting money on the side to ensure your child sees the health care professionals that they need benefits your child and your family. Learn more about how to save money for today’s and future healthcare costs.