Despite recent gains in enrolling children in the federal Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), fewer are covered in 1999 than three years ago under Medicaid, according to a report by Families U.S.A. After welfare and Medicaid were de-linked, states were slow to maintain healthcare coverage for those families moving from welfare to work, says Ron Pollack, executive director of Families U.S.A.
In the 12 states with the most uninsured children, fewer children were covered under CHIP and Medicaid in 1999 than were covered by Medicaid alone in 1996, declining to 10.9 million from 11.1 million. These states are Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Texas.
CHIP marketing efforts need to more aggressively acknowledge families that have successfully moved from welfare to work. (A successful CHIP campaign is highlighted in this issue on p. 5.)
To boost CHIP enrollment, Families U.S.A. suggests:
- simplifying and consolidating the application procedures for Medicaid and CHIP; and
- enrolling children in health coverage for a year rather than short periods of time. (Families U.S.A., Lorie Slass, 202/628-3030)