This Article Reprint (PDF) Submit a response to this article Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when Comments are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services E-mail this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to My Personal Archive Download to Citation Manager Reprints & Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (76) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Weinick, R. M. Articles by Cohen, J. W. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Weinick, R. M. Articles by Cohen, J. W. Related Collections Health Reform Insurance Coverage

Health Affairs, Vol 17, Issue 2, 127-136
Copyright © 1998 by Project HOPE

Health Tracking

Children's health insurance, access to care, and health status: new findings

Despite various policy initiatives, a substantial number of children in the United States remain uninsured, have problems with access to health care, or are in fair or poor health. These difficulties are not evenly distributed across the population. Hispanic children, those whose parents have little education, and those who live in families without an employed parent are at disproportionately high risk of encountering these problems. Although multivariate analyses would be required to disentangle the complex relationships among these factors, these descriptive data reveal the segments of the population to which new health-related programs, such as CHIP-funded state plans, might most productively be directed. Issues concerning children's health are likely to remain on the national policy agenda for some time to come. Because MEPS is a continuing data collection effort, it will enable researchers and policymakers to follow trends in these issues over time. For example, MEPS data will support evaluations at the national level to determine whether children who lack health insurance or a usual source of care will actually face fewer barriers after CHIP-funded programs are implemented. This paper provides a baseline against which to evaluate the impact of CHIP and other policy changes on the health and well-being of America's children.

                      What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				S. Pati and S. Danagoulian Immigrant Children's Reliance on Public Health Insurance in the Wake of Immigration Reform Am J Public Health, November 1, 2008; 98(11): 2004 - 2010. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. E. Simon, K. S. Chan, and C. B. Forrest Assessment of Children's Health-Related Quality of Life in the United States With a Multidimensional Index Pediatrics, January 1, 2008; 121(1): e118 - e126. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Z. J. Huang, S. M. Yu, and R. Ledsky Health Status and Health Service Access and Use Among Children in U.S. Immigrant Families Am J Public Health, April 1, 2006; 96(4): 634 - 640. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. R. Gresenz, J. Rogowski, and J. J. Escarce Dimensions of the Local Health Care Environment and Use of Care by Uninsured Children in Rural and Urban Areas Pediatrics, March 1, 2006; 117(3): e509 - e517. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. T. Wong, A. Galbraith, S. Kim, and P. W. Newacheck Disparities in the Financial Burden of Children's Healthcare Expenditures Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med, November 1, 2005; 159(11): 1008 - 1013. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Satchell and S. Pati Insurance Gaps Among Vulnerable Children in the United States, 1999-2001 Pediatrics, November 1, 2005; 116(5): 1155 - 1161. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. P. Shone, A. W. Dick, J. D. Klein, J. Zwanziger, and P. G. Szilagyi Reduction in Racial and Ethnic Disparities After Enrollment in the State Children's Health Insurance Program Pediatrics, June 1, 2005; 115(6): e697 - e705. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L.-T. Wu, A. C. Kouzis, and W. E. Schlenger Substance Use, Dependence, and Service Utilization Among the US Uninsured Nonelderly Population Am J Public Health, December 1, 2003; 93(12): 2079 - 2085. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. P. Shone, A. W. Dick, C. Brach, K. S. Kimminau, B. J. LaClair, E. A. Shenkman, J. F. Col, V. A. Schaffer, F. Mulvihill, P. G. Szilagyi, et al. The Role of Race and Ethnicity in the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) in Four States: Are There Baseline Disparities, and What Do They Mean for SCHIP? Pediatrics, December 1, 2003; 112(6): e521 - 532. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. H. Fox, J. Moore, R. Davis, and R. Heintzelman Changes in Reported Health Status and Unmet Need for Children Enrolling in the Kansas Children's Health Insurance Program Am J Public Health, April 1, 2003; 93(4): 579 - 582. [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. D. Stevens and L. Shi Racial and Ethnic Disparities in the Primary Care Experiences of Children: A Review of the Literature Med Care Res Rev, March 1, 2003; 60(1): 3 - 30. [Abstract] [PDF]

				S. M. Yu, H. A. Bellamy, M. D. Kogan, J. L. Dunbar, R. H. Schwalberg, and M. A. Schuster Factors That Influence Receipt of Recommended Preventive Pediatric Health and Dental Care Pediatrics, December 1, 2002; 110(6): e73 - 73. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. F. Coburn, T. D. McBride, and E. C. Ziller Patterns of Health Insurance Coverage among Rural and Urban Children Med Care Res Rev, September 1, 2002; 59(3): 272 - 292. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J. B. Kirby and T. Kaneda Health Insurance and Family Structure: The Case of Adolescents in Skipped-Generation Families Med Care Res Rev, June 1, 2002; 59(2): 146 - 165. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J. B. Mitchell, S. G. Haber, G. Khatutsky, and S. Donoghue Children in the Oregon Health Plan: How have they Fared? Med Care Res Rev, June 1, 2002; 59(2): 166 - 183. [Abstract] [PDF]

				M. Lara, S. Rosenbaum, G. Rachelefsky, W. Nicholas, S. C. Morton, S. Emont, M. Branch, B. Genovese, M. E. Vaiana, V. Smith, et al. Improving Childhood Asthma Outcomes in the United States: A Blueprint for Policy Action Pediatrics, May 1, 2002; 109(5): 919 - 930. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. D. Racine, R. Kaestner, T. J. Joyce, and G. J. Colman Differential Impact of Recent Medicaid Expansions by Race and Ethnicity Pediatrics, November 1, 2001; 108(5): 1135 - 1142. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Guendelman and M. Pearl Access to Care for Children of the Working Poor Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med, June 1, 2001; 155(6): 651 - 658. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. L. Langkamp, S. Hoshaw-Woodard, M. E. Boye, and S. Lemeshow Delays in Receipt of Immunizations in Low-Birth-Weight Children: A Nationally Representative Sample Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med, February 1, 2001; 155(2): 167 - 172. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. D. Parker and K. C. Schoendorf Variation in Hospital Discharges for Ambulatory Care-Sensitive Conditions Among Children Pediatrics, October 1, 2000; 106(4): 942 - 948. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. L. Slovis New Horizons in Pediatric Radiology Radiology, August 1, 2000; 216(2): 317 - 320. [Full Text]

				R. M. Friedenberg The Future of Pediatric Radiology Radiology, August 1, 2000; 216(2): 321 - 322. [Full Text]

				M. Seid, J. W. Varni, and P. S. Kurtin Measuring Quality of Care for Vulnerable Children: Challenges and Conceptualization of a Pediatric Outcome Measure of Quality American Journal of Medical Quality, July 1, 2000; 15(4): 182 - 188. [Abstract] [PDF]

				P. W. Newacheck, M. McManus, H. B. Fox, Y.-Y. Hung, and N. Halfon Access to Health Care for Children With Special Health Care Needs Pediatrics, April 1, 2000; 105(4): 760 - 766. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				E. K. Adams and V. Johnson An Elementary School-Based Health Clinic: Can It Reduce Medicaid Costs? Pediatrics, April 1, 2000; 105(4): 780 - 788. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				P. G. Szilagyi, J. Zwanziger, L. E. Rodewald, J. L. Holl, D. B. Mukamel, S. Trafton, L. P. Shone, A. W. Dick, L. Jarrell, and R. F. Raubertas Evaluation of a State Health Insurance Program for Low-Income Children: Implications for State Child Health Insurance Programs Pediatrics, February 1, 2000; 105(2): 363 - 371. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				C. R. Keane, J. R. Lave, E. M. Ricci, and C. P. LaVallee The Impact of a Children's Health Insurance Program by Age Pediatrics, November 1, 1999; 104(5): 1051 - 1058. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				P. W. Newacheck, C. D. Brindis, C. U. Cart, K. Marchi, C. E. Irwin, and J. MD Adolescent Health Insurance Coverage: Recent Changes and Access to Care Pediatrics, August 1, 1999; 104(2): 195 - 202. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				G. L. Freed, S. J. Clark, D. E. Pathman, and R. Schectman Influences on the Receipt of Well-child Visits in the First Two Years of Life Pediatrics, April 1, 1999; 103(4): 864 - 869. [Abstract] [Full Text]