WASHINGTON - Rep. Edolphus Towns (NY-10) today announced the formation of new national partnerships working together under the Obama Administration's "Connecting Kids to Coverage Challenge" to provide five million uninsured children nationwide health insurance coverage in five years.  Currently, almost 10 percent of children in New York who are eligible to receive health insurance coverage through Medicaid and CHIP are not enrolled despite affordable options under health insurance reform, and with existing children’s health insurance options.

Last February, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen announced the Connecting Kids to Coverage Challenge to enroll five million children in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) within five years.  Secretary Sebelius has challenged federal, state, and local governments, community-based organizations, health centers, school districts, faith-based groups, and Indian tribes to help find and enroll those five million uninsured children.

“We have worked hard to ensure every child in America has access to health insurance,” said Rep. Towns . “No child should have to skip a doctor’s appointment or go without medical care or medicine they need because their family cannot pay. Insurance, or the lack thereof, can mean the difference between financial stability and bankruptcy for a family -- and it is cost-effective for taxpayers.”  

To date, 17 national organizations and a number of states have agreed to sign on to the Connecting Kids to Coverage Challenge.  These organizations, ranging from the United Way to the American Academy of Pediatrics, represent a broad base of organizations who are working to enroll children in health insurance.  

The CHIP Reauthorization Act  (CHIPRA), combined with funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) and the recent extension of increased federal Medicaid funding, is currently providing states unprecedented federal support to continue providing low-income families essential health services through Medicaid during the economic downturn.

Both CHIPRA and the Affordable Care Act provide $120 million for grants designed to promote enrollment and retention strategies that will increase the prevalence of health coverage for America’s children.

HHS will be providing technical assistance as well as targeted grant funding to promote strategies known to help get and keep children insured.  The options include providing 12 months of continuous eligibility for Medicaid or CHIP to reduce the chances of children cycling on and off of coverage.  

The Urban Institute recently issued a report titled, Five Million Eligible But Uninsured: Who and Where Are the Children Yet to Enroll in Medicaid And The Children’s Health Insurance Program? published in Health Affairs online.  For years, researchers have struggled to produce accurate estimates on the number of uninsured children in each state.  The paper released by Health Affairs successfully created a new model that enabled researchers to produce meaningful national and state estimates.

More information on the Secretary’s Challenge can be found at insurekidsnow.gov.

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