Apples for Health- Insurance gaps hurt child medical care

Insurance gaps hurt child medical care

MADISON, Wis., Jan. 26 (UPI) -- Children who suffer short gaps of coverage are vulnerable to not receiving needed healthcare, U.S. researchers said.

The study found children who are uninsured for as few as four months had a 2.8 percentage point decrease in the likelihood of having a healthcare visit.

Study author Lindsey J. Leininger of the University of Wisconsin said improving enrollment retention in the State Children's Health Insurance Program and Medicaid and in private healthcare coverage is needed to ensure that children maintain access to the healthcare that they need.

Eliminating mandatory waiting periods for SCHIP enrollees is another necessary step to keep eligible children enrolled in the program, Leininger said.

The study also found:
-- Fifty-seven percent of low-income children with partial-year coverage were covered by private insurance for at least one month in the past year.
-- Children who are uninsured for part or all of the year accessed well-child services at levels considerably below those recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
The findings are published in the February issue of Medical Care Research and Review.