Recent trends in children's health insurance coverage: no gains for low-income children

The percentage of low-income children who have health insurance has not changed over the last few years, despite expansions in public coverage through Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). Data from 1996-1997 and 1998-1999 from the Center for Studying Health System Change (HSC) find that while the proportion of low-income children with public coverage has increased, the percentage with private insurance coverage has decreased sharply, resulting in no net change in the percentage who are uninsured. This Issue Brief describes these recent changes in public and private coverage. Possible factors that may explain these changes are discussed, including increases in private insurance premiums, substitution of public for private coverage and changes in the characteristics of low-income persons. The study did not determine conclusively the causes of the changes in coverage.