More Americans, Including More Children, Now Lack Health Insurance


 

Publication Date: August 2007

Publisher: Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (Washington, D.C.)

Author(s):

Research Area: Health

Keywords: Economic projections; Health insurance; Health care costs; Federal budget

Type: Report

Abstract:

Since 2004, as the availability of funding for SCHIP expansion has tightened and as a restrictive Medicaid policy enacted in early 2006 has taken effect, progress in enrolling uninsured children in SCHIP and Medicaid has stalled.  With employer-based coverage continuing to erode, the number of uninsured children under 18 has jumped by 1 million over the past two years — from 7.7 million uninsured children in 2004 to 8.7 million in 2006.