Parents often unaware their kids qualify for insurance
Six of 10 parents whose children may qualify for Medicaid or the State Children's Health Insurance Program do not believe the programs apply to them, according to a new survey released by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
Yet most parents queried, 82%, said they would enroll their children in the health insurance programs if they knew they qualified. The misperception is most prevalent among eligible households in which both parents are working, said the survey, conducted by Wirthlin Worldwide.
Although stigma is often cited as the reason more parents do not enroll their children, the survey found that three out of four parents whose children qualify said they believe that health programs based on financial need "are a good thing to help people take care of their families."
Seven million of the nation's 11 million uninsured children qualify for low-cost or free health care, surveyors estimated. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has launched a $26 million enrollment campaign to reach those children. From mid-August to mid-September, the foundation plans to conduct outreach activities in about 20 states under its "Covering Kids" initiative.
Medicaid covers more than 20 million children. About 2 million children are enrolled in SCHIP.
In an effort to eliminate some barriers to enrollment, states have been working to streamline application and enrollment processes, said Health and Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala, PhD.
Doctors can refer families to (877) KIDS-NOW, which will connect them to the appropriate state offices.
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