The National Children’s Campaign is a nonpartisan organization that advocates for policies that improve the health of children. In America over 95 percent of children have access to health insurance coverage through employer-based and government-run insurance offerings like Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and the Affordable Care (ACA).1 However, the amount of health coverage varies by state. For example, while only one percent of children in Massachusetts lack insurance, in Texas that number soars to 11 percent. 2
Reaching 100 percent coverage requires getting approximately two million children who are eligible for government-run programs enrolled and finding ways to get health insurance to those who come from families comprised of undocumented immigrants.3
Another vexing problem is the health outcome gap that exists between children based on their economic and racial status. When the health needs of children are unfulfilled, they fall behind their peers in many ways that last well into adulthood. America also has not properly addressed the challenge of providing mental health services for everyone regardless of age.
Our elected leaders must invest the resources to ensure every child is covered, which begins by holding the line on attempted rollbacks in Medicaid and the ACA. They also must focus on creating a more efficient and effective coordinated health care delivery model. The two-pronged approach will reverse the long-standing trend of Americans spending more on health care than other high-income countries, yet having worse health outcomes.4
1 Georgetown University Health Policy Institute Center For Children And Families: U.S. Continues Progress in Children’s Health: Over 95% of U.S. Children Have Health Insurance, September 12, 2017
2 Kaiser Family Foundation State Health Facts: Health Insurance Coverage of Children 0-18, 2018 Timeframe
3 Children’s Defense Fund: Policies > Policy Priorities > Health, 2017
4 Business Insider: The US was once a leader for healthcare and education — now it ranks 27th in the world, September 27, 2018