The health of many uninsured, minority children could be described as suboptimal. One of the reasons for the unmet health needs of this population is the lack of education programs for parents about Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program, according to new study.
Researchers from the Medica Research Institute in Minnetonka, Minn., analyzed parental awareness surrounding health insurance in Medicaid/CHIP-eligible minority children, as well as the effects being uninsured has one children's on health, access to care, unmet needs and family financial burden.
The study included 267 uninsured Medicaid/CHIP-eligible Latino and African-American children recruited from 97 urban Texas community sites, including supermarkets, health fairs and schools.
Highlighted below are five findings from the study.
- Only about half (49 percent) of parents were aware that their uninsured child was eligible for Medicaid or CHIP. The mean uninsured time for the participants was 14 months.
- Thirty-eight percent of the children studied had suboptimal health, and 66 percent had special healthcare needs.
- Nearly two-thirds (64 percent) of the children had no primary care provider.
- Unmet needs documented among the children included healthcare (73 percent), mental healthcare (70 percent), mobility aids/devices (67 percent), dental (61 percent), specialty care (57 percent) and vision (46 percent).
- Due to the child's health, 35 percent of parents reported having financial problems, 23 percent had to cut work hours and 10 percent had to cease working altogether.
According to the study author, Glenn Flores, MD, the study demonstrates the need for better parental education about Medicaid and CHIP. The findings also highlight the necessity for improved Medicaid/CHIP outreach.
"Our data indicate that special efforts should be made to target populations at highest risk of parental unawareness of children's Medicaid/CHIP eligibility, including those uninsured the longest, those at the higher end of income eligibility and Latinos," said Dr. Flores.
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