| Unburden PA’s Health Care Systems by Insuring Every Child
There are more uninsured children in the Commonwealth than the total populations of Harrisburg and Scranton combined.
Nearly 145,000 PA children and teens are not covered by any sort of health insurance. They’re paying a heavy price but they’re not the only ones.
Pennsylvania hospitals absorbed $772 million in uncompensated care for children in 2022, according to new research by Children First.
It’s well documented that when children are uninsured, their health, education, and life chances suffer. When they do get medical care, it’s often in an emergency room after a moderate ailment progressed to a serious condition. This is why hospitals are the epicenter of unpaid care.
Because rural counties have higher rates of uninsured children than urban counties, rural hospitals are carrying heavy uncompensated care costs.
Hospitals do get some reimbursement from Medicaid funding, but it’s a fraction of the entire $772 million in uncompensated care for children. If state lawmakers amended our Medicaid rules, every Pennsylvania child could get routine and emergency health care without financially harming the health care system.
Already 12 states and Washington, D.C. have programs that make it possible for every child to get coverage. Colorado and Minnesota are joining that list next year. Even the deep red state of Utah does a better job than Pennsylvania making sure every child is insured, including children who are growing up without legal citizenship documents.
In these states, all means all. Pennsylvania must do the same.
Become an individual or organizational member of the Insure Every Child coalition so we can give every child access to a healthy life and a brighter future in a flourishing state economy. |
