Since you are looking at this site with an older browser, you will not be able to see any graphics or formatting. For better results, please upgrade your browser.

Home > State Profiles > United States >

Policy Profiles

Also of Interest

United States: Public Health Insurance for Children

The two major federal funding sources for low-income children’s public health insurance are Medicaid and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). States enjoy some flexibility in their Medicaid programs for children, but federal requirements establish minimum benefit packages and strictly limit cost-sharing. SCHIP funds allow states to increase coverage for children through expanding their Medicaid programs (“Medicaid SCHIP”) and/or creating separate SCHIP programs. Medicaid expansions must meet regular Medicaid requirements; states have greater flexibility in designing separate programs. [More detail...]

Print|

National Participant & Spending Data

Participants

Number of recipients

Number of children in Medicaid (including Medicaid SCHIP)123.2 million children (FY 2001)2
Number of children in Medicaid SCHIP31.2 million children (FY 2001)4
Number of children in separate SCHIP33.4 million children (FY 2001)4

Benefit coverage

Percent of children without health insurance coverage511% (2004)
Percent of low-income children without health insurance coverage618% (2004)

Spending

Total spending

Total spending on children in Medicaid (state and federal)7$30.4 billion (FY 2001)2
Total spending in Medicaid SCHIP (state and federal)8$1.1 billion (FY 2001)4
Total spending in separate SCHIP (state and federal)9$2.7 billion (FY 2001)4
Print|

Data Notes and Sources

Data on Public Health Insurance for Children were compiled by NCCP in March 2006. Some state policy decisions may have changed since these data were collected.

  1. Figure reflects "Medicaid Eligibles" (i.e., persons enrolled in Medicaid during the year, whether or not they received health care services), whose "Basis of Eligibility" is "Child" or "Foster Care Child"; children who are blind/disabled are not included. Data are based on states' eligibility and claims data submitted through the Medicaid Statistical Information System (MSIS), and they include children enrolled in SCHIP-funded Medicaid expansions (for more information about Medicaid data sources, see http://www.cms.hhs.gov).
    U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Medicaid Statistical Information System (MSIS) data, personal email (received May 27, 2004).
  2. Figure reflects total for 49 states and the District of Columbia; data for Hawaii are not available.
  3. Figure reflects number of persons enrolled during the year. Data are based on state enrollment data submitted in the Statistical Enrollment Data System (SEDS).
    Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, The State Children's Health Insurance Program Annual Enrollment Report: Fiscal Year 2002, 2003.
  4. Figure reflects total for the 50 states and the District of Columbia.
  5. Figure reflects the percent of children under age 18 who did not have health insurance coverage at any point during the year.
    Current Population Survey, 2005 Annual Social and Economic Supplement, "2004 Health Insurance Coverage Tables" http://pubdb3.census.gov (accessed March 16, 2006).
  6. Figure reflects the percent of children under age 19 at or below 200% of the poverty level who were not covered by a health plan at any time in the year.
    Current Population Survey, 2005 Annual Social and Economic Supplement, "2004 Health Insurance Coverage Tables" http://pubdb3.census.gov (accessed March 16, 2006).
  7. Figure reflects Medicaid payments for persons whose "Basis of Eligibility" is "Child" or "Foster Care Child"; payments for children who are blind/disabled are not included. Data are based on states' eligibility and claims data submitted through the Medicaid Statistical Information System (MSIS), and they include spending on children enrolled in SCHIP-funded Medicaid expansions, where applicable (for more information about Medicaid data sources, see http://www.cms.hhs.gov).
    U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Medicaid Statistical Information System (MSIS) data, personal email (received May 27, 2004).
  8. Data are based on the Quarterly Medicaid Statement of Expenditures for the Medical Assistance Program (Form CMS-64) submitted by states (for more information about Medicaid data sources, see http://www.cms.hhs.gov).
    Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, "Net Reported Medicaid and SCHIP Expenditures," http://cms.hhs.gov (accessed March 18, 2005).
  9. Figure may also include administration costs associated with expanding children's coverage in an SCHIP-funded Medicaid expansion. Data are based on the Quarterly State Children's Health Insurance Program Statement of Expenditures for Title XXI (Form CMS-21) submitted by states (for more information about these data, see http://www.cms.hhs.gov).
    Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, "Net Reported Medicaid and SCHIP Expenditures," http://cms.hhs.gov (accessed March 18, 2005).