modern research shows that despite ...

modern research shows that despite an increase in the overall number of uninsured Americans, the number of uninsured children in the United States has declined, according to a July 31 2003 recently made knowns release from Covering Kids & Families. The decline is attributed largely to increased enrollment in the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) and Medicaid, programs that provide exempt or low-cost health coverage for children.

In 2002 78 million US children were uninsured, a decrease of 18 million since 1999 Seventeen million children received SCHIP and Medicaid coverage in 2002 The cogitation found, however, that four million uninsured children who were eligible for these programs were not recorded Children who were enrolled in SCHIP and Medicaid were 15 times more likely than uninsured children to receive well-child visits, other office visits, and dental care.

African American and Hispanic children made the greatest in quantity gains in obtaining health insurance guard age during the past three years; however, the percentage of African American and Hispanic children that is uninsured still is greater than that of nonHispanic Caucasian children. Many of these uninsured children are eligible to receive exempt or low-cost health care, and the majority of parents scaned said they would enroll their children if they knew that they qualified for the programs.

More than 160 national organizations are working with Covering Kids & Families to inform eligible families about the availability of emancipated and low-cost health care coverage. Individuals can learn more about health care coverage for children by the agency of calling (877) KIDS-NOW to be associateed with their state's program. In most numerous states, a family of four earning up to $36000 by means of year may qualify for unrestrained or low cost children's health care coverage.

Number of Uninsured Children Declines unless Millions Remain Without Coverage (new release, Washington, DC: Covering Kids & Families, July 31 2003)

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