Number of Uninsured African-American Children Decrease, But Millions Remain Eligible for Low-Cost or Free Coverage

DC Mayor and Mary Mary - the Grammy-Winning Gospel Duo - Join Surgeon General to Encourage Parents to Seek Coverage for Their Kids

Washington, DC - The number of African-American children with health insurance coverage increased five percentage points from 1998 to 2003, but more than eight in 10 uninsured African-American kids remain eligible for low-cost or free coverage, according to research released today.

The research, released by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) and compiled by the Urban Institute, shows that the number of African-American children without health insurance fell from 14 percent in 1998, to nine percent in 2003. While the uninsurance rate fell for African-American children, there was no change in the uninsurance rate for African-American parents. Eight in 10 uninsured African-American children in the United States are eligible for low-cost or free coverage through Medicaid or the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), but are not enrolled.

According to figures compiled by the State Health Access Data Assistance Center, also released today, uninsured African-American children are 20 times more likely not to receive the medical care they need, compared to African-American children with insurance (14.7 percent vs. 0.7 percent). ...

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