 | | | | Related Healthscout Videos | |
|
Page: << Prev | 1 | 2 Boosting enrollment among people who are eligible for public programs wouldn't significantly reduce the number of uninsured parents and childless adults, the report authors said. They noted there are 9.1 million uninsured childless adults and 4.8 million parents with incomes below 200 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL) who aren't eligible for public coverage. One third of each group has incomes below 100 percent of the FPL. Extension of current public programs or providing public subsides would help these adults.
Currently, only seven states provide public assistance to low-income childless adults, and about half the states deny access to traditional Medicaid benefits for working parents in families above 63 percent of the FPL (about $13,000 for a family of four). This means there's plenty of room for expansion to reach the poorest adults, the report authors said.
They noted that providing coverage to more parents would likely increase enrollment of eligible children in Medicaid and SCHIP, since there's evidence that children are more likely to be enrolled in these programs if their parents are eligible.
Text Continues Below
About 40 percent of uninsured people have moderate to higher incomes, according to the report. Since most of those with incomes above 200 percent of FPL have insurance, it's difficult to find affordable solutions without disrupting those who have insurance. Tax credits, tax system changes, high-risk pools, reinsurance and mandates are among the policy options that can be used by government. Insurance products designed for previously uninsured people are being developed by the private sector.
"What this report shows us is that reaching universal coverage is a very complicated proposition, but that we can get a quarter of the way there by getting more people who are eligible for public programs enrolled, and we can make a lot of headway, too, by looking for subsidies for low-income childless adults and parents," Chockley said.
More information
The American College of Emergency Physicians has more about uninsured patients.
Page: << Prev | 1 | 2
-- Robert Preidt
|
.gif)
