The June Medicaid and CHIP Enrollment Report, released last week by CMS, shows that 7.2 million more people are now covered by Medicaid and CHIP than before the beginning of open enrollment last October.

It’s not surprising that states expanding Medicaid have seen an 18.5 percent increase in Medicaid and CHIP enrollment, while those opting not to take advantage of 100 percent federal funding to cover low-income adults have experienced a more modest gain of 4 percent. This difference is a major driver of the higher coverage gains in Medicaid expansions states. According to the Urban Institute’s Health Reform Monitoring Survey, the uninsurance rate dropped by 38 percent in the states that adopted the ACA’s Medicaid expansion as compared to 9 percent in the nonexpansion states.

Given that the ACA did not expand children’s coverage and that not all states have put out the welcome mat by covering low-income parents, children’s enrollment grew by less than 1 percent. The overall average masks growth in some states, while in other states, children’s enrollment slipped a bit. And still, one-quarter of the states are not reporting child enrollment.

CCF’s founder Cindy Mann, who now administers Medicaid and CHIP at the national level, blogged:

“Behind these numbers are unique stories about Americans across the country, who no longer have to chose between paying an electric bill and going to the doctor or getting a screening.”

Indeed! With health coverage, parents report better health, which enhances their ability to work, support their families and care for their children. Not only are states that haven’t expanded Medicaid leaving millions of federal dollars on the table that could boost their state’s economy, but they are also missing out on the opportunity to make families healthier and more economically secure.