1 in 5 Uninsured Children in N.Y. Had No Medical Care for EntireYear; Many of New York’s Uninsured Kids Are Eligible for PublicPrograms

NEW YORK, Aug. 4 /U.S. Newswire/ — More than one-fifth (21.6 percent) of uninsured children in New York went without medical for an entire year. Conversely, 92 percent of their insured counterparts received care during the same period. Uninsured children in New York were 12 times more likely not to receive needed medical care than New York children with insurance (8.5 percent vs. 0.7 percent).

The research also showed that in New York state, as well as nationally, more than seven in ten uninsured children are eligible for low-cost or free health care coverage through Medicaid or the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), but are not enrolled. There are more than 335,000 uninsured children in New York who are likely eligible for Child Health Plus, the state’s low-cost or free health care coverage plan for children.

Rep. Charles B. Rangel and the Child Health Now! Coalition, with the support of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Covering Kids & Families Initiative, today kicked off a series of local events that will take place in New York City and across the state to enroll eligible uninsured children in Child Health Plus. New York City is one of six cities in the United States selected by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation for an enhanced outreach campaign targeting families with uninsured children.

Numerous events are planned across New York during August and September to enroll eligible children in Child Health Plus including the MetroStars, the local Major League soccer team declaring “Children’s Health Care Coverage Day” on September 17 and simultaneously holding their “Get a Kick Out of Reading” day, an event to promote reading and honor kids that have completed the program.

“It is disturbing to know that children are not receiving the health care they need. They’re even missing out on annual checkups that will prevent them from developing more serious medical conditions down the road,” said Rep. Rangel. “We owe it to the parents of these children to let them know that coverage is available for many uninsured children.”

Going Without: America’s Uninsured Children was released this week by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation as part of the Covering Kids & Families Back-to-School Campaign. The research was prepared by analysts at the State Health Access Data Assistance Center, located at the University of Minnesota, and the Urban Institute in Washington, D.C. Additional findings include:

— The number of uninsured children is decreasing nationally. While the number of uninsured parents has increased by more than 1 million, the number of uninsured children in America has decreased by nearly 2 million, largely due to enrollment in public programs.

— Uninsured kids in New York do not have a regular doctor or nurse. One third (29.5 percent) of uninsured children in New York report that they do not have someone they consider their personal doctor or nurse.

— Uninsured Hispanic children are less likely to receive medical care than uninsured white children. Nationally, more than 40 percent (41.4 percent) of uninsured Hispanic children went without any medical care during the year, compared to just a quarter (25.7 percent) of uninsured white children.

The report analyzes data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics, including the 2003 National Survey of Children’s Health and the 2003 National Health Interview Survey.

“All of New York’s children deserve affordable health care coverage. Yet every day New York families with uninsured children are unnecessarily forced to make hard choices in caring for their kids,” said Donna Lawrence of the Children’s Defense Fund – New York. “These sacrifices have far-reaching consequences for the more than 479,000 New York children who lack health insurance. Fortunately, many children in New York are eligible for coverage through Child Health Plus. With this campaign, we hope to inform more parents that Child Health Plus can help them improve their children’s health and quality of life.”

Carina Salvi, from New York City, whose child, Mateo, is enrolled in Child Health Plus, attended the kick-off event today to help spread the word to area families that their uninsured kids may be eligible for coverage.

“As a mother of a 4-year-old I have come to realize that the most important thing for me is the health and well-being of my family, including the sense of security that having health insurance gives,” says Salvi. “I feel very grateful that the government has programs to help people like me get access to health insurance that otherwise, we would not be able to afford.”

Child Health Plus coverage includes check-ups, hospital care, emergency room visits, prescription drugs, vaccinations, dental, vision and much more. Parents of uninsured children can call toll- free 1-877-KIDS-NOW to find out if their children are eligible for low-cost or free health care coverage. A family of four earning up to $48,000 a year or more may qualify for low-cost or free coverage for their children.

To view the research report (including state-level data), locate Covering Kids & Families activities or download materials in English or Spanish, log on to http://www.coveringkidsandfamilies.org.

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The Downstate New York Child Health Now! Coalition Since July 1999, the Downstate New York Child Health Now! Coalition has worked together to ensure that all eligible families learn about and enroll their children in New York State’s health insurance program for children — Child Health Plus (A & B). With the implementation of Family Health Plus in 2001, the mission of the coalition was expanded to include parents and other uninsured adults.

With the support and leadership of Children’s Defense Fund -New York the Child Health Now! Coalition has grown to include more than 100 member organizations and many more individuals from New York City, Long Island and Westchester. Members represent facilitated enrollment programs, managed care plans, government agencies (federal, state and local), health and human services providers, unions, community-based organizations, advocates and others concerned with the health of New York’s children and families. Since its inception, The Downstate New York Child Health Now! Coalition has made tremendous contributions in addressing the problem of the uninsured in New York. The work of coalition members and other key partners around the state to simplify and expand New York’s health insurance programs coupled with the creation of facilitated enrollment has resulted in a more rational and effective health insurance system for working families. As a result of these efforts, the number of uninsured children in New York State has dropped from a recent high of 729,000 to 479,000 in just five years and more low-income adults are also getting the health care they need to stay healthy and working. Child Health Now! is a project of Children’s Defense Fund — New York.

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation focuses on the pressing health and health care issues facing our country. As the nation’s largest philanthropy devoted exclusively to improving the health and health care of all Americans, the Foundation works with a diverse group of organizations and individuals to identify solutions and achieve comprehensive, meaningful and timely change. For more than 30 years, the Foundation has brought experience, commitment, and a rigorous, balanced approach to the problems that affect the health and health care of those it serves. By helping Americans lead healthier lives and get the care they need, the Foundation expects to make a difference in our lifetime. For more information, visit http:// www.rwjf.org.

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