FL Ranks 49th For Uninsured Children

“That means when the parent learns about their own coverage opportunity they may also learn that their child is eligible”.

A report released today shows Nevada made significant progress in reducing the number of uninsured children. Approximately 85,000 Utah children were uninsured in 2014; the same number as in 2013.

Nationally, the rate of uninsured children has hit a historic low, due to the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, the study found.

A number of other states that expanded Medicaid in 2014 saw their uninsured rates decline faster, noted Michael Race, a spokesman for Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children. Despite this improvement, 378,000 kids in Florida – approximately one out of every 10 Florida children – do not have quality health coverage, according to a new report by KidsWell Florida and Georgetown University Center for Children based on U.S. Census Bureau data.

Samples said the remaining 3 percent of children who are uninsured could fall into several groups, including those who are “between coverage” and who already have been determined eligible for state insurance but who have not yet accessed their coverage, as well as those whose parents might be employed by companies that have eliminated family coverage in the wake of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

Additionally, after age 5, children don’t have any required vaccines or screenings, so they’re less likely to be in contact with the health system if they’re not sick. “Children thrive when their parents are healthy and economically secure so improvements in health coverage for parents benefits the whole family”. According to the study, almost 4.4 million children in the US still don’t have health insurance.

“The ACA’s outreach and enrollment efforts were primarily targeted to adults but likely resulted in a “welcome mat” effect for children who were previously eligible but not enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP”, wrote the authors.

The rate has been declining each year for a decade because of expansions in Medicaid and passage of the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

Mandle said it’s important to make it easy for families to get and keep the coverage they need, and added that the continuity of medical care is crucial for children’s well-being.

Even more alarming, Utah ranks #51-worst in the nation-for insuring children with family incomes below 200% of the federal poverty level.