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State estimates of uninsured children
1Division of Research on Health Policy, American Academy of Pediatrics, Elk Grove Village, IL.
Health Affairs (Project Hope)
|January 1, 1993
Summary
Millions of children lack health insurance, with rising rates among middle-class youth and older children. Current Medicaid expansions may not effectively reach these at-risk populations.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Health Services Research
- Public Health Policy
Background:
- Approximately 12 million American children are uninsured.
- Assessing healthcare reforms is difficult due to a lack of state-level data on uninsured children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present baseline statistics on children's insurance status.
- To identify trends in childhood insurance coverage.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of Current Population Surveys from 1988, 1989, and 1990.
- Examination of insurance status across different socioeconomic and age groups.
Main Results:
- The sharpest increase in uninsured rates occurred between 1987 and 1989.
- Middle-class children and those aged seven to twenty-one experienced the most significant rise in uninsurance.
Conclusions:
- Medicaid expansions may not adequately cover the most vulnerable children.
- Targeted strategies are needed to address the growing number of uninsured middle-class and older children.