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Number of Uninsured Children Declines but Millions Remain Without Coverage

The number of uninsured children in the United States has declined, according to new research by the Urban Institute's Assessing the New Federalism Project that was released today by Covering Kids and Families.

This decline is largely attributed to increased enrollment in the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) and Medicaid, public programs that provide low-cost and free health coverage to children. The same survey shows that 4 million uninsured children are eligible for these programs but are not yet enrolled.

The decrease in the number of uninsured children comes despite the fact that the U.S. Census Bureau showed an increase in the overall number of uninsured Americans in its last Current Population Survey.

According to the first in a series of Snapshots based on the Urban Institute's 2002 National Survey of America's Families (NSAF), 7.8 million children in the United States were uninsured in 2002, a decrease of 1.8 million over the past three years. At the time of the survey in 2002, more than 17 million children had coverage through SCHIP or Medicaid, but at least 4 million uninsured children who were eligible for these programs were not enrolled. Among low-income families with uninsured children, the vast majority said they would enroll their children if they knew they qualified.

These findings were released by Covering Kids and Families, a program of The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, at the launch of its annual Back-to-School campaign, a nationwide effort to enroll children in SCHIP and Medicaid. Covering Kids and Families coalitions are planning more than 1,700 Back-to-School enrollment events during August and September to inform families about low-cost and free health care coverage.

"The good news is that despite a weak economy, the number of uninsured children in America has declined, thanks in large part to SCHIP and Medicaid," said Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, M.D., M.B.A., president and CEO of The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. "With unemployment at its highest level in almost a decade, the number of uninsured children could rise over the next year. That's why we need to redouble our efforts and enroll each and every one of the more than 4 million uninsured children who is eligible for low-cost or free health care coverage today."

"Children in the United States need and deserve to arrive on the first day of school healthy and ready to learn," said U.S. Surgeon General Richard Carmona, M.D, M.P.H. "When children have health insurance, they have better access to the basic health care services they need to grow and be healthy."

"Parents with children enrolled in these affordable health care coverage programs can allow their kids to be kids, without worrying that an illness, injury or even a routine doctor visit will cause severe financial strain," said Sen. Christopher Bond (R-Mo.).

"After enrolling Shavon, I breathed a sigh of relief," said Charmaine Muhammad, of Miami, Fla., about enrolling her 12-year-old son in Florida Healthy Kids. "I no longer have to worry about being able to take him to the doctor for routine checkups or when he is sick for fear I won't be able to pay the medical bills. It gives me peace of mind to know that I can take care of him and provide the things he needs like quality health care."

Covering Kids and Families will also be working with corporate partners to promote SCHIP and Medicaid enrollment. "This partnership fits in well with our corporate mission of providing valuable information and services to our customers and the community," said Rick Elliott, director, Capital One Financial Corporation. "We are pleased to be working on this effort to reach families who could benefit from these programs."

Covering Kids and Families is also continuing partnership activities with CVS/pharmacy, Giant Food, LLC, Albertsons, Inc., H and R Block, and the National Association of Chain Drug Stores.

"All of these partnerships with businesses and corporations reinforce our ability to reach families and raise awareness about these programs," said Sarah Shuptrine, director of the Covering Kids and Families National Program Office. "Through these partnerships we are reaching out to families where they live and work."

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