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Child
Health Insurance
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Increase
the proportion of children, ages birth to 18 years, with health insurance.
Target:
100 percent children, ages 0 to 18, will have access to health
insurance.
Baseline, 1999: There are an estimated 225,969 uninsured
children ages 0-18. An estimated 119,081 uninsured children ages
0-18 are at or below 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level.
Target Setting Method: Total coverage.
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Access to Health
Care -
Child Health Insurance
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The lack of health insurance is a substantial
barrier for low-income families in obtaining timely and appropriate
health care. Children with health insurance are more likely to receive
regular and preventive health care. Children without health insurance
have difficulties in obtaining routine services and are less likely
to receive childhood immunizations. Children without health insurance
are more likely to be seen in an emergency room with more severe illnesses
and are less likely to get care for their injuries, to see a physician
if chronically ill, or to obtain regular dental care.
The lack of appropriate care can affect a child’s
health status throughout life. The 1987 National Medical Care Expenditure
Survey showed that one-third of the uninsured children with recurring
ear infections and half of the uninsured children with asthma never
saw a doctor. Children with recurring ear infections may suffer
permanent hearing loss and children with untreated asthma may endure
avoidable hospitalizations. Children with undiagnosed vision problems
may be unable to see the blackboard and children in pain or discomfort
may have trouble concentrating in school.
While Health Check (Medicaid) and North
Carolina Health Choice (CHIP) are having a positive impact, many
children continue to be uninsured. The 1997 North Carolina Child
Health Insurance Task Force Report identifies the following reasons
as barriers to child health insurance:
1. Family income is above the 200 percent of the Federal Poverty
Level income cut-off for publicly funded health insurance programs
and the family has not purchased health insurance for their children
privately for a variety of reasons.
2. Children are not citizens of this country and Congress has
imposed waiting periods before illegal residents may qualify for
health insurance. Also, although the "public charge"
issue has been resolved, many immigrant families are unaware that
this is no longer an issue and fear applying for public benefits.
3. Families are either unaware or have failed to apply for existing
publicly funded health insurance programs.
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Disparities
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Children from families at lower income levels
are more likely to be uninsured than children from families at higher
income levels. Minority populations are disproportionately affected.
Because the source of data regarding insurance coverage is usually
the Current Population Survey or Census Data, uninsured children are
likely to be undercounted. Therefore, estimates of the number of uninsured
children are most likely low. |
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Determinants/Risk
Factors
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Families at lower income levels; Families
whose primary source of employment is a company that does not offer
group health insurance and/or dependent coverage for employees’
children (e.g., small companies that cannot afford group health insurance);
Families whose primary source of income comes from being self-employed,
and who cannot purchase comprehensive, quality health insurance due
to cost; and Families at social risk due to a variety of factors (e.g.
unemployed, homeless, victims of domestic violence, etc.) |
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NC Data
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| Access
to Health Care - Child Health Insurance |
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