Pennsylvania children's uninsured rate stalls at 5.2%

Posted 11/27/24

Pennsylvania continues to have the fifth-highest number of uninsured children in the nation, with the rate holding steady at 5.2%, according to a new report.

The State of Children's Health report, released Tuesday by Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children, found that 147,000 children under age 19 lack health insurance — a slight increase from 145,000 in 2022.

The report provides the first analysis of how children's healthcare coverage fared after states resumed Medicaid eligibility reviews, which were paused during the Covid pandemic. While Pennsylvania maintained coverage for …

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Pennsylvania children's uninsured rate stalls at 5.2%

Posted

Pennsylvania continues to have the fifth-highest number of uninsured children in the nation, with the rate holding steady at 5.2%, according to a new report.

The State of Children's Health report, released Tuesday by Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children, found that 147,000 children under age 19 lack health insurance — a slight increase from 145,000 in 2022.

The report provides the first analysis of how children's healthcare coverage fared after states resumed Medicaid eligibility reviews, which were paused during the Covid pandemic. While Pennsylvania maintained coverage for about 80% of children during the review process, 42% of disenrollments were due to administrative reasons rather than eligibility issues.

The report highlighted disparities in coverage, with uninsured rates worsening for Asian, Black, Hispanic and multiracial children between 2022 and 2023. Children from lower-income families were also more likely to lack insurance, with approximately 6.8% of those eligible for Medicaid remaining unenrolled.

Currently, about 1.2 million Pennsylvania children rely on Medicaid for healthcare access. 

The state's Department of Human Services recently received federal approval to provide continuous Medicaid coverage from birth until age 6, expected to begin in January 2025.