New Funding Will Promote Increased Children’s Health Care Coverage

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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced $32 million in awards to help 38 community in 27 states enroll eligible children in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) as part of the Connecting Kids to Coverage campaign. In 2015, an estimated 8 in 10 uninsured Latinos qualified for Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Plan (CHIP), or lower costs on monthly premiums through the Health Insurance Marketplace.

These awards were designed to build on the historic progress already made increasing the number of children who have health coverage. The Connecting Kids to Coverage outreach and enrollment awards will support targeted strategies needed to enroll eligible children who do not have health coverage, including application assistance and targeted outreach.

The awardees include state agencies, school districts, and community organizations in areas across the country where access to health coverage has been lagging. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) has helped increase the numbers of children who have access to quality, affordable coverage.

“Since the passage of the ACA, the rate of un-insurance for children has declined to its lowest levels on record. Fewer than 1 in 20 children are now uninsured,” said Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell. “Today’s awards will accelerate efforts in communities across America to continue this progress and reach millions of children who are eligible for Medicaid or CHIP but not yet enrolled.”

Healthcare coverage improves children’s health, increases their ability to succeed in school, and results in other positive outcomes. Recent research shows that these gains are long lasting, with children who gained coverage experiencing better health, higher educational attainment, and higher earnings as adults.

“Having coverage through Medicaid and CHIP improves children’s health, development, and ability to succeed in school,” said Vikki Wachino, CMS deputy administrator and director, Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services. “Today’s announcement means that more children will have access to coverage early in their lives, reducing financial burden on their families, and helping kids grow into healthy adults.”

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