Since 2008, the number of uninsured kids has declined by 2.5 million children nationwide. Following the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, 94 percent of all children have health insurance coverage. Still, there are 4.4 million children living in the United States without health coverage. Our report released last week, Children’s Health Insurance Rates in 2014: ACA Results in Significant Improvements, details the national and state-by-state children’s uninsured rates.
While all racial groups experienced significant gains in health insurance coverage in 2014, disparities persist. American Indian/Alaska Native (AIAN) children have the highest rate of uninsurance (13.9 percent) and are disproportionately represented among uninsured children. Since a picture tells a thousand words, here’s my point in one graphic.
Note that the chart above only includes race and not ethnicity (Hispanic origin). Stay tuned for our analysis of trends among Hispanic children coming soon.
Here on Say Ahhh! I’ll provide a profile of the remaining uninsured children. It is important to focus on keeping children covered with high quality and affordable health coverage. Access to health services not only improves children’s immediate health, but also improves long-term health, educational, and economic outcomes. Knowing who the remaining uninsured children are helps us move closer to the day where no child is uninsured.
For more on what’s happening for children in your state, read our annual report on uninsured children.
