Families are increasingly relying on public health insurance plans to provide coverage for their children, according to new research from the Carsey Institute at the University of New Hampshire.
Researchers attribute the growing trend to job losses, coverage changes to private health insurance plans and expanded access to public plans. The trend is particularly pronounced within rural and inner-city areas, which traditionally have had lower coverage rates than suburban areas.
The key findings of this research show:
• Health insurance coverage among children increased 1.3 percent from 2008-2009 in the United States, with the most growth in central cities and rural areas.
• The Northeast continues to have the highest rate of coverage, with more than 95 percent of children covered. The South has the lowest coverage rates, at 89 percent.
• Forty-four states had a significant increase in the number of children covered by public health insurance.
• Twenty-seven states saw a decrease in private health insurance coverage for children.
• Children in Midwestern central cities experienced the largest shift from private to public insurers in 2009; private insurance coverage fell 4.3 percent, while public coverage rose by 6.5 percent.
Read the news release about public healthcare coverage for children.
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Researchers attribute the growing trend to job losses, coverage changes to private health insurance plans and expanded access to public plans. The trend is particularly pronounced within rural and inner-city areas, which traditionally have had lower coverage rates than suburban areas.
The key findings of this research show:
• Health insurance coverage among children increased 1.3 percent from 2008-2009 in the United States, with the most growth in central cities and rural areas.
• The Northeast continues to have the highest rate of coverage, with more than 95 percent of children covered. The South has the lowest coverage rates, at 89 percent.
• Forty-four states had a significant increase in the number of children covered by public health insurance.
• Twenty-seven states saw a decrease in private health insurance coverage for children.
• Children in Midwestern central cities experienced the largest shift from private to public insurers in 2009; private insurance coverage fell 4.3 percent, while public coverage rose by 6.5 percent.
Read the news release about public healthcare coverage for children.
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