Latino Children in Maryland More Likely to Be Uninsured

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According to a new national report, Latino children in Maryland are more than twice as likely as other American children to have no health insurance. The Georgetown University Center for Children and Families reported that more than 15,000 Latino children in the state were uninsured in 2014.

“There are language access barriers, worries about immigration consequences for themselves or family members,” said Anna Davis, health policy director at Advocates for Children and Youth. “And there is the complexity of the rules themselves.”

According to Davis, the majority of the uninsured children are U.S. citizens and most are eligible for Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Latino children are the fastest growing segment of the U.S. population. Getting these children enrolled in insurance plans is critical, particularly in that a healthy child is able to attend school more regularly.

“We have some new research available, and it shows that health coverage for children is linked to better health throughout childhood,” said Sonya Schwartz, policy fellow at Georgetown. “It’s linked to school success, and it’s linked to improved financial security for their families.”

Latinos are projected to be one-third of the workforce by 2050. Open enrollment through the Maryland health exchange ends on Jan. 31; enrollment in Medicaid and CHIP is year-round.

“[All] Maryland kids can get the health care they need to succeed in school and grow up to become healthy and economically secure adults,” said Davis.