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According to the new report by Georgetown University’s Center for Children and Families, the rates of insured children nationwide reached a historical high of 95%. Furthermore, as of 2015, only 1.6% of children in Hawaii are still uninsured. Deborah Zysman, executive director of Hawaii Children’s Action Network, mentioned that they recognize the importance of children’s insurance, as it helps children prevent care and be healthier. However, she mentioned that there are still about 5,000 children, mostly in rural areas, that need coverage and that they will be working on that.

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Even in a state already providing for its children, Hawaii made great strides to cut its rate of uninsured children in half between 2013 and 2015, according to a report released today by the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families.

Joan Alker, executive director of the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families, says the country previously has never seen uninsured rates for children fall like this. She attributes it to major provisions of the Affordable Care Act complementing other important programs and policies.

“We see success around the country and I think this speaks to how, despite all of the fighting and very intense partisanship around the Affordable Care Act, we can feel good as a country that we’ve come together through Medicaid, CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program) and the Affordable Care Act and really reduced the number of uninsured children,” she states.

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