Med-QUEST Offers $50 Per Child for Annual Well-Child Exams

Med-QUEST announced on December 26, 2025, that families enrolled in the state health program who complete an annual well-child exam for each eligible child will receive $50 per child through the newly established Hawaiʻi Child Wellness Incentive Program. The incentive is intended to encourage regular preventive visits that include routine vaccinations, age-appropriate developmental screenings, and referrals to early intervention services when concerns are identified.

The new incentive targets Med-QUEST-enrolled households, a population that includes many low-income families across Big Island County. Public health officials designed the program to increase attendance at well-child visits, a cornerstone of preventive pediatric care that can detect developmental delays early, keep vaccination rates high, and connect children and caregivers to supportive services. By offsetting barriers such as transportation costs, missed work and competing household expenses, the incentive seeks to reduce inequities in access to routine pediatric care.

Primary care providers, community health centers and pediatric clinics on the island are central to the initiative, since the well-child exam is the qualifying visit. Families should confirm their Med-QUEST enrollment status and schedule annual check-ups with any provider who accepts Med-QUEST to ensure visits meet program requirements. Details on documentation and the process for receiving the $50 payment, including timing and delivery method, are available from Med-QUEST and from the Hawaiʻi Department of Health; families should contact their Med-QUEST managed care contractor or local Med-QUEST office for specific instructions.

Public-health leaders say the program aligns with broader efforts to strengthen preventive services and reduce downstream costs by catching health and developmental issues early. For Big Island communities where long travel distances and workforce shortages can limit routine care, even modest financial incentives can make a practical difference in whether a child receives timely screening and vaccines.

The incentive program also raises policy questions about longer-term strategies to sustain preventive care gains and address structural barriers. Advocates and health administrators will be watching uptake rates and outcomes to assess whether the incentive increases well-child visit attendance and improves early detection of developmental needs across diverse communities in Big Island County.

Families seeking more information should reach out to Med-QUEST or the Hawaiʻi Department of Health to confirm eligibility, learn how to document a qualifying visit and find participating providers on the island.