Healthcare
It’s important to take your child to their doctor for regular checkups when they are not sick. These checkups are called “well-child visits” and are recommended from birth to age 21.
Click here to view the recommended schedule for well-child visits.
Medicaid pays for many health services, there is no cost to you. Here is a list of what Medicaid covers. Check with your MCO by calling the customer service phone number on your child’s card if you have specific questions.
- Well-Child visits
- Doctor 's visits for illness, injury or other concerns
- Vision appointments and eyeglasses
(Vision screening can start as early as infancy. An appointment with an eye doctor is recommended starting at age 3 unless there are concerns about your child 's vision before then.) - Prescription medications
- Vaccines (also called immunizations or shots)
- Appointments with specialists, including therapy and counseling
- Dental exams
- Transportation to and from Medicaid-covered appointments
Well‑child visits are regular checkups from birth to age 21.
At these visits, expect your child’s doctor to focus on:
- Growth and Development tracking
- Measurement of height, weight, head circumference, and BMI
- Monitoring developmental milestones, including motor skills, speech and social-emotional development
- Immunizations
- Vaccines are administered according to CDC and AAP guidelines to prevent serious illness
- Screenings
- Vision, hearing, anemia, obesity, behavioral and mental health assessments
- Developmental and social emotional screenings at key ages
- Parental Guidance
- Opportunity to discuss concerns about behavior, learning, or family dynamics
- Advice on nutrition, sleep, safety, school readiness, and mental health
- Early detection of Health Issues
- Conditions such as autism, hearing loss, or vision problems are easier to treat when they’re identified early
- Seeing the same doctor or medical provider helps them get to know you and your child
- When a doctor knows your child well, they can spot changes or concerns more quickly
- The doctor can make a plan to help with any health issues or questions you may have
- The child’s caretaker and doctor can act as a team to serve the needs of the child
Vaccines, also known as immunizations, or shots, are recommended by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to ensure your child stays healthy. Vaccines are paid for by Medicaid and can protect people from serious diseases that can harm or kill a baby, child or adult. Please discuss these with your doctor.
Important Links:
Vaccine/Immunization Schedule
CDC Vaccine Information
HPV (Human Papillomavirus) Vaccine
- Learn about the HVP vaccine, which can prevent certain types of cancer.
Influenza Vaccine
- Learn more about vaccines that can protect you and your child from the flu each year.
Lead poisoning is common in our area and has no visible symptoms. It causes developmental delays; therefore, children must be tested at age 1 and again at age 2. If detected, it can be treated. Lead testing is paid for by Medicaid. Click here to learn more about lead poisoning and prevention.
Iowa Medicaid is provided through health insurance companies called Managed Care Organizations, or MCOs. You can find a list of providers at the links below:
- Polk County
- Pediatricians: Ankeny - Des Moines
- Medical Providers: Altoona - Ankeny - Des Moines - West Des Moines Area
- Dallas County
- Madison County
- Warren County
You should have received an insurance card in the mail from your child’s assigned MCO. If you need a doctor for your child, you can find one using one of the following ways:
- Search on your assigned MCO’s website
- Call EveryStep at (515) 283-1422
