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Arizona, Texas Lead Nation in Rate of Uninsured Children, March of Dimes Makes Insuring Youth Top Priority in 2001
WHITE PLAINS, NY, SEPT. 28, 2000 – One in four children in Arizona and Texas have no health insurance coverage, according to a state-by-state breakdown on the number of uninsured children under age 19 released today by the March of Dimes. The state statistics, based on U.S. Census Bureau data, were commissioned by the March of Dimes.
While Arizona and Texas had the highest rates of uninsured children at 25 percent, Vermont and Rhode Island had the lowest rates in the country at 7.2 and 7.5, respectively.
The new U.S. Census data reveal that the percentage of uninsured children under age 19 in the U.S. dropped from 15.6 in 1998 to 14.1 in 1999.
"While the percentage of uninsured children in the nation has declined, we’re deeply troubled that almost 11 million children have no health insurance, particularly considering that most of these children live in low- or moderate-income families and should be eligible for coverage under the existing State Children’s Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP) or Medicaid," says Dr. Jennifer L. Howse, president of the March of Dimes. "States must move faster to enroll eligible children and take full advantage of available federal funds, and the March of Dimes stands ready to help.’’
The March of Dimes leadership has identified increasing access to health coverage for women, infants and children as a top priority for its chapters in all 50 states. On Saturday, October 28, the March of Dimes will partner with the Kmart Corporation in a program called "Insure Kids Now," which takes place on national "Make a Difference Day." Thousands of volunteers will be in Kmart and Big Kmart stores across the country to help enroll children in free or low-cost health coverage.
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