The study authors credit state and federal policies aimed at outreach efforts to raise awareness of the public coverage programs, as well as increased enrollment assistance for families as leading factors in fewer eligible children going without coverage. This report is an update to a December 2012 report by the Urban Institute.
Medicaid/CHIP Participation Rates Among Children: An Update
The percentage of eligible children enrolled in Medicaid/CHIP coverage continues to grow.
As of 2011, the percentage of those children with health insurance stands at 87.2, up from 81.7 in 2008. Likewise, the number of children eligible for Medicaid/CHIP, but uninsured, dropped from 4.9 million in 2008 to just 4.0 million in 2011. This number could decrease further as states continue their outreach efforts and related provisions in the Affordable Care Act come into effect.
Key Findings
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The number of children eligible for Medicaid/CHIP, but uninsured, dropped from 4.9 million in 2008 to just 4.0 million in 2011.
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Thirty-seven percent of all eligible, but uninsured, children live in one of three states–California, Florida or Texas.
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Twenty States (including the DC) had participation rates of 90% or higher, while just four had rates below 80%.
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States west of the Mississippi River are more likely to be below the national average of the percentage of eligible children who have Medicaid/CHIP coverage.
Media Contacts
Christine Clayton
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation media@rwjf.org (609) 627-5937
Recommended
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Urban Institute Real Time Policy Analysis
These reports, also called "quick strikes," are a series of timely briefings examining a wide variety health insurance coverage issues in the United States.
Learn more about the series - Topics
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Related
- Medicaid/CHIP Participation Among Children and Parents December 3, 2012
- About This Grant
~87%
of children who are eligible for #Medicaid /CHIP are now insured.
