Louisiana
Expansions, Simplifications and Outreach
Results
Louisiana’s steady and multi-faceted efforts to enroll and retain children in public health insurance coverage have yielded concrete results.
According to the Louisiana Health Interview Survey:
- In 2007, 5.4 percent of children in the state were uninsured, a decrease from 7.6 percent in 2005. While officials believe the decline in uninsured children is partly attributable to population shifts (due to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita), history shows that the programs have been successful in covering children. In fact, when LaCHIP was implemented in 1998, the state reported a 32 percent uninsurance rate for low-income children. In addition, until the new federally-required citizenship documentation requirements were enacted, there had been net increases in enrollment in LaCHIP every month since May 2000.
- From 2005 to 2007, there has been a notable increase in awareness of LaCHIP. Among all households, awareness increased from 43 percent to 64 percent; in households with children, it increased from 61 percent to 78 percent; in households with children below 200 percent of poverty, from 66 percent to 81 percent.
In addition, efforts to improve policy and practice have had a direct impact on the way business is accomplished. According to state officials, data show that:
- LaCHIP application denials for procedural reasons are at less than .5 percent while procedural closures for children at renewal are less than 2 percent statewide, nearly eliminating coverage gaps for children.
- More than 60 percent of children have their ongoing eligibility verified and automatically renewed as a result of ex parte verification.
Browse
- Summary
- Background/History
- Support/Opposition
- Program Elements
- Funding
- Results
- Lessons Learned
- Contacts
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Last Updated
February 2008
Louisiana
Expansions, Simplifications and Outreach
Results
Louisiana’s steady and multi-faceted efforts to enroll and retain children in public health insurance coverage have yielded concrete results.
According to the Louisiana Health Interview Survey:
- In 2007, 5.4 percent of children in the state were uninsured, a decrease from 7.6 percent in 2005. While officials believe the decline in uninsured children is partly attributable to population shifts (due to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita), history shows that the programs have been successful in covering children. In fact, when LaCHIP was implemented in 1998, the state reported a 32 percent uninsurance rate for low-income children. In addition, until the new federally-required citizenship documentation requirements were enacted, there had been net increases in enrollment in LaCHIP every month since May 2000.
- From 2005 to 2007, there has been a notable increase in awareness of LaCHIP. Among all households, awareness increased from 43 percent to 64 percent; in households with children, it increased from 61 percent to 78 percent; in households with children below 200 percent of poverty, from 66 percent to 81 percent.
In addition, efforts to improve policy and practice have had a direct impact on the way business is accomplished. According to state officials, data show that:
- LaCHIP application denials for procedural reasons are at less than .5 percent while procedural closures for children at renewal are less than 2 percent statewide, nearly eliminating coverage gaps for children.
- More than 60 percent of children have their ongoing eligibility verified and automatically renewed as a result of ex parte verification.
Browse
- Summary
- Background/History
- Support/Opposition
- Program Elements
- Funding
- Results
- Lessons Learned
- Contacts
View
Download
Last Updated
February 2008