Cover More Kids
Strategies to reduce the number of children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN) who do not have health insurance.
Printable version (PDF)Three to nine percent of CYSHCN are without health insurance coverage.[1] While the percentage of uninsured CYSHCN may be small compared to that of the general population, for those approximately 900,000 children the lack of health insurance is a fundamental threat to health, development, and well-being. Strategies to reduce the number of CYSHCN who do not have health insurance include:
- Expand eligibility for the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP);
- The TEFRA State Plan Option for Severely Disabled Children (formerly Katie Beckett waivers);
- Home and Community-Based Services Waivers (referred to as 1915c waivers);
- Premium assistance;
- Assistance with other costs of insurance;
- Private sector initiatives;
- Comprehensive health care reform;
- Medicaid buy-in programs;
- Other strategies to expand coverage.
[1] National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs. NS-CSHCN 2009/10. Data query from the Child and Adolescent Health Measurement Initiative, Data Resource Center for Child and Adolescent Health website. Retrieved January 30, 2013 from http://www.childhealthdata.org.
