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Better results for kids and families through research-informed policy

Increase Health Care Access

Investing in children’s health is a smart investment. [i] Evidence shows that Medicaid and SCHIP enrollment yields positive impacts on health conditions and school performance. [ii] Publicly insured children have fewer unmet medical or dental needs than uninsured children. [iii] Emergency room use by publicly insured children has declined by nearly 25 percent over 10 years. [iv]

What Can Policymakers Do?

  • Increase well-child visits . Increase the number of children receiving primary, well-child visits that identify children’s developmental needs.

[i] Schor, E.L., Abrams, M.K., and Shea, K. (2007, March/April). Medicaid: Health Promotion and Disease Prevention for School Readiness. Health Affairs, 26(2), 420-29

[ii] [iii] [iv] Ku, L. and Broaddus, M. (2007 , January ). Improving Children’s Health: A Chartbook About the Roles of Medicaid and SCHIP 2007 Edition., Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Available online.

Promoting Health Care for all Children. The Governors of Pennsylvania and Illinois declared “health care for all children.” Previously eligible applied because families did not feel singled out for government assistance. [i]

[i] Ku, L. and Broaddus, M. Improving Children’s Health: A Chartbook About the Roles of Medicaid and SCHIP 2007 Edition. Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, January 2007.

Learn More. Information on state health insurance policies .