Children's Eligibility And Coverage: Recent Trends And A Look Ahead

Authors:
  • TSThomas M. Selden
    Thomas M. Selden
  • AMAsako S. Moriya
    Asako S. Moriya
  • BWBill J. Wright
    Bill J. Wright
  • GGGinny Garcia-Alexander
    Ginny Garcia-Alexander
  • MWMargarette A. Weller
    Margarette A. Weller
  • KBKatherine Baicker
    Katherine Baicker
  • SASalam Abdus
    Salam Abdus
  • SHSteven C. Hill
    Steven C. Hill
  • GKGenevieve M. Kenney
    Genevieve M. Kenney
  • VLVictoria Lynch
    Victoria Lynch
  • ACAllison Cook
    Allison Cook
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Abstract
We used data from the 1996–2005 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey to track changes in children’s public insurance eligibility and coverage. During the 2001–2005 “postexpansion” period, eligibility was approximately constant, while public enrollment increased rapidly and uninsurance declined. Nevertheless, as of 2005, 62 percent of all uninsured children (5.5 million) continued to be eligible but not enrolled. We present detailed estimates of their characteristics by age, income, race/ethnicity, health status, and nativity/citizenship. We also examine the impact of potential changes in SCHIP income thresholds—both an expansion and a rollback—and estimate the number and characteristics of the children potentially affected.

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