By Subject: Child Welfare | Early Childhood Education | Home Visiting | K-12 Education | Maternal and Child Health | Prenatal-to-Age-Three
During the past three years, Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) have been a lifeline for families by providing continuous health insurance coverage throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. With more than 1.4 million Pennsylvania children enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP, these programs connect kids to health care in every community across the commonwealth.
Beginning April 17th, the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services will determine eligibility for CHIP families and new enrollees, not CHIP insurance plans. This change means County Assistance Offices will process all renewals and new applications.
The 2022 State of Children’s Health Report shows the factors that contribute to a child’s likelihood of being uninsured include family income, race and ethnicity, geography, and age. It uses the most recent Census data and examines the role of public health insurance programs as comprehensive coverage options and how Medicaid continues to provide a safety net of coverage during the COVID-19 public health emergency.
Looking beyond statewide numbers is crucial to show how children in Pennsylvania experience access to health insurance differently. See uninsured data for all 67 counties.
The 2021 State of Children’s Health Care in Pennsylvania highlights practical policy solutions to ensure all children and moms living in Pennsylvania are eligible to have free or low-cost health care opportunities. We also advocate for those with existing coverage to stay connected without unnecessary gaps in coverage through auto-renewal strategies, updating current mailing addresses, and more extended time frames for continuous coverage.
