Covering kids: variation in health insurance coverage trends by state, 1996-2002.
We estimated state-specific changes in health insurance coverage rates for children between 1996-1998 and 2001-2002. We found considerable variation in the changing distribution of health insurance coverage for children across states, with significant increases in public program coverage in twenty-nine states and significant decreases in uninsured children in twenty-seven. Children in families with incomes below 200 percent of the federal poverty level were the most likely to enroll in public programs. We provide an overview of state outreach and administrative simplification efforts and raise concerns about the persistent variation in children's health insurance coverage across states.
Blewett
Lynn A
LA
Division of Health Services Research and Policy, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA. blewe001@umn.edu
Davern
Michael
M
Rodin
Holly
H
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002662:Child Health Services / Q000639:trends*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019458:Insurance Coverage / Q000639:trends*; D007348:Insurance, Health; D008297:Male