The nation’s children have a lot at stake in the ongoing federal and state level debates over Medicaid’s role in deficit reduction efforts. Children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN) are most vulnerable to Medicaid cuts because so many rely on it. Approximately 14% (10.2 million) of children meet the criteria of having a special health care need. Of these children, 36% rely on Medicaid for all or part of their health coverage.

In this issue-brief, CCF researchers review the current data on CYSHCN and Medicaid, summarize the routes to Medicaid coverage for CYSHCN, and outline state-level policy options that would increase CYSHCN accessibility to Medicaid. Throughout the paper, family stories convey the reality of what CYSHCN and their families experience and how vital Medicaid is to their survival. Staff from the Georgetown Center Children and Families and Family Voices conducted interviews with the families over an eight-month period.