Texas has about 700,000 children who do not have insurance in spite of being eligible for Medicaid. The state along with California, accounts for nearly 30% of the nation’s total of 5 million children who have not been enrolled for the government aided coverage even though they are entitled for it. This report was brought out by the Urban Institute.
Medicaid is the joint state-federal health plan for the poor, disabled and elderly. CHIP provides low-cost coverage for children in families who earn too much to qualify for Medicaid but cannot afford private health insurance coverage.
The study has attributed the staggering numbers to two possible reasons:
- Slumping economy
- People are unaware that they and their kids are eligible for such government aided insurance coverage
Reacting to the reports, the Obama administration has said that it will use tools created in the 2009 CHIP reauthorization law to boost enrollment in Texas. This would include outreach and enrollment grants and bonus payments Texas when it adopts enrollment and retention strategies.
US Department of Health and Human Services Secretary, Kathleen Sebelius has asked the state and local officials to find and enroll these five millions kids who do not have any form of health insurance coverage.
“Nothing is more important to our future than the health of our children. No child should have to skip a doctor's appointment or go without the medicine they need because their family can't pay."
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