The rate of children without health insurance increased to 5.2 percent (4.1 million) in 2018, up from 5 percent (3.9 million) in 2017, according to a new report from the Georgetown University Health Policy Institute Center for Children and Families.
This marks the second consecutive year the uninsured rate for children has increased following continuous decreases after enactment of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
Fifteen states experienced significant increases in the uninsured rate for children in 2018, with Tennessee, Georgia, and Texas seeing the most drastic change. Only North Dakota saw a decrease in the uninsured rate for children.
In general, states that have not expanded Medicaid under the ACA saw increases in the uninsured rate for children three times larger than states that expanded the program.
Contact Senior Director of Policy Erin O’Malley at eomalley@essentialhospitals.org or 202.585.0127 with questions.