Newton County Times

The number of uninsured children nationwide increased by about 276,000 children last year, the first significant increase in a decade, according to a new report released by the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families. An estimated 3.9 million children were uninsured nationwide in 2017. The analysis shows that in Arkansas, the number of uninsured children increased from 30,000 to 33,000 in 2017. That represents a slight increase in the overall children’s uninsured rate, from 4 to 4.4 percent. The percentage of uninsured black children increased significantly during the same time period, from 1.5 percent to 4 percent. Children living just above the poverty line saw a big increase, as well, with their uninsured rate increasing from 3.2 percent to 7.5 percent. “With an improving economy and low unemployment rate, the fact our nation is going backwards on children’s health coverage is very troubling,” said Joan Alker.

…

Read more here.