Many Parents Are Unaware That Their Children Are Eligible for Health Insurance

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Six out of 10 parents whose children may qualify for the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) or Medicaid do not know this, according to a recent study conducted by Wirthlin Worldwide and released by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The study found that almost all parents surveyed (97%) whose children are eligible for but not enrolled in Medicaid recognized the name of the program, whereas only about half (49%) had heard of their state's SCHIP. More than half the parents (59%) did not believe that their children were eligible for either program, but 82% indicated that they would enroll their children in Medicaid or SCHIP if they knew the children were eligible.

Parents' misperception that their children were not eligible for the programs when in fact they were was most prevalent among households in which both parents were working (71% did not think their children were eligible) and among those making $25,000 a year or more (69%). Almost half (49%) of parents making $15,000 a year or less thought that their children were not eligible for the programs, and the study states that 72% of parents whose children were eligible for SCHIP coverage based on family size and household income thought the children were not eligible.

The study revealed ethnic differences pertaining to program awareness. For instance, name recognition of SCHIP was lowest among Hispanics. Ethnic groups also differed in whether parents thought their children were eligible; white parents were most likely to believe their children were eligible (68%), as compared with 58% of African-American and 40% of Hispanic parents.

This week the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation launched a $26 million 3-year public-education campaign to inform parents about the two health insurance programs through nationally coordinated enrollment drives and an advertising campaign.

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Covering Kids. National public opinion survey of families with children who qualify for SCHIP and Medicaid programs.

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MCH Alert. 2001. Arlington, VA: National Center for Education in Maternal and Child Health. http://www.ncemch.org/alert.