Press Releases

Washington, D.C. — A Children's Defense Fund® analysis of recently released Census data for 2002 reveals that the percentage of uninsured children in the nation varies widely from state to state. In more than half the states, at least 10 percent of children have no health insurance. The percentage of children without health coverage ranges from more than 20 percent in Texas to less than 5 percent in Vermont, Rhode Island and Wisconsin.

"We know how to fix this problem through programs that already exist," said Marian Wright Edelman, president of the Children's Defense Fund. "If we would just enroll all eligible, uninsured children in Medicaid and CHIP, we would reduce these numbers and provide more children with the good, quality health care all children deserve in order to have a healthy start in life."

The attached table shows the number and percent of uninsured children by state. Nationwide, about 9.3 million children are uninsured or 12 percent of the 77 million children under age 19.

National data show that the troubled economy has caused both children and adults to lose employer-based health coverage. However, the loss of coverage for children (1.4 million since 2000) was offset by increased coverage through two federal health insurance programs, Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Unfortunately, in response to revenue shortfalls, many states are cutting back on Medicaid and CHIP. For example, since 2002, Texas (the state with the highest percentage of uninsured children) has made the decision to cut back on CHIP, the very program designed to give health care coverage to uninsured Texas children.

Uninsured Children Younger than 19 in the States, 2000-2002

NOTES: The U.S. percentage and number of uninsured are from the March 2003 Current Population Survey. The estimated percentage of uninsured children in each state is the average of the percentages of children uninsured during the years 2000-2002. Three-year averages are used because of small sample sizes in some states. The estimated number of uninsured children in each state is calculated by applying that average percentage to the most recent Census estimates of the number of children younger than 19 in each state. SOURCES: U.S. Census Bureau: March 2001, 2002, and 2003 Current Population Surveys; July 1, 2002 state population estimates. Calculations by the Children's Defense Fund, 10/03.

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The mission of the Children's Defense Fund is to Leave No Child Behind and to ensure every child a Healthy Start, a Head Start, a Fair Start, a Safe Start, and a Moral Start in life and successful passage to adulthood with the help of caring families and communities. CDF provides a strong, effective voice for all the children of America who cannot vote, lobby, or speak for themselves. We pay particular attention to the needs of poor and minority children and those with disabilities. CDF educates the nation about the needs of children and encourages preventive investment before they get sick, into trouble, drop out of school, or suffer family breakdown. CDF began in 1973 and is a private, nonprofit organization supported by foundation and corporate grants and individual donations. We have never taken government funds.