Improving Children's Health: A Chartbook about the Roles of Medicaid and SCHIP

Publication Date: January 2007

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

Author(s): Matthew Broaddus; Leighton Ku

Research Area: Health

Keywords: Economic projections; Health insurance; Health care costs; Income diversity

Type: Report

Abstract:

This chartbook summarizes current knowledge about the health insurance coverage and health needs of low-income children in the United States and the roles that Medicaid and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) — the joint federal-state, publicly funded health insurance programs for children — play in improving children’s health care access and health status. Medicaid and SCHIP provide health coverage for over 30 million low-income children, opening doors to children and their families to affordable preventive, primary, and acute health care services. This is a completely revised and updated version of a report originally issued three years ago (Ku and Nimalendran, 2004). Given current concerns about the pending reauthorization of SCHIP, it is relevant to provide clear and updated information about the important role these public insurance programs play in the lives of America’s low-income children.