Reducing the Number of Uninsured Children: Outreach and Enrollment Efforts. Testimony of Donna Cohen Ross, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, before the Senate Finance Committee

• Main Author: Ross, Donna Cohen
• Format: Government Document
• Language: English
• Published: Center on Budget and Policy Priorities 15.03.2001
• Subjects: Child Health; Children; Childrens Health Insurance Program; Federal Government; Health Insurance; Low Income Groups; Medicaid; Outreach Programs; State Government; State Programs

This testimony of Donna Cohen Ross describes the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities' work to reduce the number of uninsured children. The Center specializes in programs and policies affecting low- and moderate-income families, including issues related to health coverage for the uninsured. It works with many groups on strategies to identify uninsured children eligible for publicly-funded health coverage programs and get them enrolled. Though many children are eligible for coverage under the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), it is challenging to get them enrolled. States have undertaken ambitious outreach efforts to promote enrollment. Though 1.1 million fewer children were uninsured in 1999 than 1998, many families with eligible children are unaware of available health coverage or confused by enrollment processes. States must continue simplifying enrollment procedures and remove unnecessary barriers. Continued emphasis on aligning enrollment procedures in SCHIP-funded programs and Medicaid will save families from navigating two systems. Many states are working on these goals. Community-based organizations and institutions can help families with enrollment. Examples from communities nationwide are presented. Congress can help advance efforts to enroll more eligible children by supporting efforts to cover families and coordinating child health insurance enrollment with other public benefit programs. (SM)