PND (4/25/2000) -- Study Finds No Net Change in Health Insurance Coverage for Low-Income Children

A new study issued by the Center for Studying Health System Change, an independent research organization funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, reports that, over the last five years, the percentage of low-income children with public health coverage increased from 29 to 33 percent, while the percentage with private coverage fell from 47 to 42 percent, resulting in no net change in the number of low-income children with health coverage. The study, which was based on surveys conducted in 1996-97 and 1998-99, also finds that the number of uninsured low-income parents increased from 31 to 35 percent over the same period.

The study, Recent Trends in Children’s Health Coverage, highlights trends in the coverage of low-income children during a period of rapid change that has seen the debut of the government-funded Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), the first significant welfare reform in a generation, and substantial increases in private insurance premiums.

"We were expecting to see some gains in public coverage for low-income children given recent expansions, but were surprised to see the decline in private insurance, which is, unfortunately, working in the opposite direction," said study author and HSC senior researcher Peter J. Cunningham, Ph.D. "Perhaps the most troubling trend is the increase in uninsurance for low-income parents who, unlike their children, do not have access to public programs."

FCnote: The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (NJ) had assets of $7,867,784,532 and made grants totaling $288,126,426 in the year ending 12/31/98.

"Latest Trends in Children's Health Insurance Coverage: No Gains for Low-Income Children, Shifts in Source of Coverage." Center for Studying Health System Change Press Release 4/24/2000.

"Study Shows Low-Income Families Losing Private Health Insurance." Associated Press 4/24/2000.

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