Uninsured Children 2009-2011: Charting the Nation’s Progress

From Georgetown University Center for Children and Families  Oct 23, 2012

Georgetown University Center for Children and Families researchers analyzed health insurance data from the Census Bureau’s annual American Community Survey to get a closer look at children’s coverage trends. The authors found that the nation continues to make steady progress covering children, despite no re­duction in the number of children living in poverty. A strong commitment to children’s health cover­age through Medicaid and CHIP and the protection of children’s eligibility levels by the ACA helped decrease the number of uninsured children to 5.5 million in 2011 from 6.4 million in 2009. Half of all uninsured children live in just six states – Texas, California, Florida, Georgia, Arizona and New York.  Nevada continued to have the highest rate of uninsured kids in the country, as Mas­sachusetts maintained its lead with the lowest rate. As states continue moving forward over the next year, full implementation of the ACA provides the next opportunity to make substantial progress for children’s coverage.

Hawaii was the only state to show a significant increase in the number of uninsured children from 2009-2011, yet remained one of the strongest states in terms of coverage….

States with Lowest Uninsured Rates

• Massachusetts 1.7%
• Vermont 2.4%
• Connecticut 2.9%
• Hawaii 3.6%
• Illinois and New Hampshire 3.7%

STATE	2009 # Uninsured	2009 Rank	2011 # Uninsured	2011 Rank
Hawaii	7,066	3	10,980	7

10980 / 7066 = 55% Increase

STATE	2009 % Uninsured	2009 Rank	2011 % Uninsured	2011 Rank
Hawaii	2.5	2	3.6	4

STATE	2009 % Uninsured	2011 % Uninsured	2009 - 2011 Change	Rank by % change
Hawaii	2.5	3.6	1.1	50

LINK: Uninsured Children 2009-2011: Charting the Nation’s Progress

PDF: Full Text

SA: More kids in isles lack insurance