Children's Health
- Approximately 95 percent of all children in PA have health insurance, one of the highest percentages in the nation.
- There is no reason for a child in PA to be uninsured. All children legally living in PA who can’t afford private coverage have the opportunity to receive coverage as a result of the 2007 expansion of the Children’s Health Insurance Program. Children in families with income no greater than 200% of poverty ($44,700 annually for a family of 4) may receive CHIP free of charge. Children in families with income above that level can receive coverage by paying for part or all of the monthly premium.
- A child with insurance can receive preventative services without a co-pay, cannot be dropped from coverage if they are sick and cannot be denied coverage because they have a pre-existing condition
Children who have health insurance are more likely to be immunized, receive regular check-ups and get prompt treatment for common childhood ailments, such as ear infections and asthma. Insured children are also more likely to receive the behavioral health care services they need.
Uninsured children are less likely to see a doctor on a regular basis or when symptoms develop. Because children with health insurance are more likely to avoid preventable childhood illnesses and benefit from early detection and appropriate treatment, they generally have better school attendance and better school performance than the uninsured.
Children's health is compromised when they lack comprehensive health insurance that meets their individual needs. The lack of coverage or coverage that fails to provide the full spectrum of physical and behavioral health care not only compromises child well-being but creates financial strains on the health care system.
Pennsylvania's Cover All Kids initiative and implementation of federal health care reform, provides the opportunity for every child to receive comprehensive coverage and access to care that meets their physical and behavioral health care needs.
For more information, please contact George Hoover at ghoover@papartnerships.org
