Introduction
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) has lowered the uninsured rate for children and families nationally, but its impact varies across the country based on whether a state has adopted the ACA’s Medicaid expansion to cover more adults.1 For Latino children and families, Medicaid serves an especially important role; while Latinos are more likely to participate in the workforce than non-Latinos,2 they are less likely to have employer-sponsored insurance.3
As of May 2021, 37 states have implemented the Medicaid expansion, two states have adopted but not yet implemented, and 12 states have yet to adopt.4 In this brief, we show that adopting the Medicaid expansion in these 12 states would help narrow coverage gaps for Latino children and families. The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed and exacerbated longstanding health disparities for Latinos and other communities of color. As policymakers consider how to design a more equitable health system, Medicaid expansion is one key lever already at states’ disposal.
Uninsured Rates
Hover over the maps below to see the uninsured rate for Latino children and parents across the country.
Latino Child Uninsured Rate by State, 2019
Latino Parent Uninsured Rate by State, 2019
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Medicaid Expansion Could Narrow Health Coverage Gaps for Latino Families