Introduction As of June 2021, over 40 million children were enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP for their health insurance — the vast majority in Medicaid. From the month prior to the pandemic in February 2020, through June 2021, children’s enrollment increased by 11 percent. Now, about half of the nation’s children are covered by Medicaid […]
The COVID-19 pandemic has taken an unprecedented toll on children’s mental health, exacerbating long-standing gaps in mental health care for children in the United States. Fortunately, a number of states plan to invest in initiatives that support youth behavioral and mental health by leveraging funds made available by section 9817 of the American Rescue Plan […]
The number of uninsured children was on a downward trajectory for many years, but in 2017 started going back up, rising a full percentage point between 2016 and 2019 (see Figure 1). This issue brief examines the incidence and characteristics of children who experienced a period of uninsurance over the course of a recent year […]
On November 19, 2021, the House of Representatives passed the Build Back Better Act, the budget reconciliation bill, with the Senate expected to consider the legislation in coming weeks. The Build Back Better Act includes numerous provisions that would dramatically strengthen and expand both public and private health insurance coverage. Some of the new provisions […]
Key Takeaways: Latino children disproportionately receive their health coverage through Medicaid or CHIP. Together, these programs provide coverage for more than one-third (37.6 percent) of all children, but more than half (52.1 percent) of Latino children. Adopting Medicaid and CHIP policies that remove barriers to participation and reduce gaps in coverage would narrow inequities in […]
Executive Summary Children and youth in foster care are among the most vulnerable populations covered by Medicaid. When children and youth enter the child welfare system, they are often not up to date on routine care, and many have unrecognized and untreated medical needs. In addition, the experience of removal from a child’s biological family, […]
