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Working parents, but kids uninsured

A report says parents who are struggling to provide health coverage for their kids are unaware of government programs.

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published September 28, 2006

WASHINGTON - Most of the 9-million uninsured children in the United States live in homes where at least one parent works full time. In more than one-quarter of the cases, there are two working parents.

The advocacy group Families USA, which promotes universal health coverage, says that goes against the stereotype that many people have of the uninsured.

In a report being released today, the group said about two-thirds of the families would qualify for government-sponsored coverage for their children if parents applied. "The reason these children are not participating is that, No. 1, many don't know about it, and No. 2, the enrollment process is cumbersome," said the group's executive director, Ron Pollack.

Overall, 88.3 percent of uninsured children age 18 and under live in households with a working parent.

Two government programs provide health insurance for children:

- Medicaid primarily covers children living in poverty.

- The State Children's Health Insurance Program covers children who live just above the poverty level, which last year was $19,971 for a family of four.

The five states with the highest rates of uninsured children are Texas, 20.4 percent; Florida, 17 percent; New Mexico, 16.7 percent; Nevada, 16.4 percent; and Montana, 16.2 percent.

[Last modified September 28, 2006, 00:26:27]