While the amount of American children with health insurance increased during the first half of 2002, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports that nearly 10 percent of U.S. children (aged 17 and under) remain uninsured. This means that millions of children don't get the health care they so badly need because they have no health insurance. Without insurance, common childhood illnesses often go untreated and can impair a child's physical and mental growth and development. Obviously, untreated illnesses and injuries can cause physical problems for children, but missing school from these illnesses and/or lack of concentration due to suffering can also highly impact a child's mental health. In addition, some studies show that one in 10 children suffer from an emotional or behavioral problem that would benefit from treatment, but only one in five of these children receive such treatment. Many health insurance plans have a mental health component that if utilized, could really help in these cases. But again, those that are uninsured cannot benefit from this treatment.

Childhood immunizations are the most effective method of preventing children from contracting devastating illnesses and diseases. Immunizations protect not only children, but also their communities from preventable illnesses. The increasing number of safe and effective vaccines for conditions such as measles, polio and tetanus protect children from acquiring these infirmities. While state laws require children to have such immunizations complete before entering the school system, this does not mean that 100 percent of children are immunized. Children who do not have health insurance often do not receive these important vaccines, and may suffer greatly as a consequence.

Besides immunizations, it is important for children to have health insurance to cover regular checkups, as well as sicknesses and injuries that are sure to pop up when you least expect them. If your child gets an injury that is not treated, it could cause recurring problems throughout the child's life. Children who do not have a regular source of health insurance coverage are also at a higher risk of using the emergency room and requiring hospitalization. This can be very expensive, especially if you are uninsured. This expense could have been avoided if the child had health insurance coverage and visited his or her regular doctor for his or her problem in a timely manner.

Not only is it extremely important for a child to have health insurance, it is just as important that the coverage is maintained. Lapses in coverage could mean a child misses an important immunization or checkup. What if your child had a condition that could have been prevented if he or she had gone to a regular check-up? If the child is not continuously insured, this could happen. It also may be a good idea to use only one carrier and/or health plan if you have more than one child. Having multiple plans can make it difficult to get quick medical attention when your child needs it, especially if two or more of your children are sick at the same time.

The two main reasons that a child is uninsured are that the parent(s) think they cannot afford coverage, or the parent(s) recently lost employer-sponsored coverage. By comparing multiple rates, the parent(s) may realize that there is a health plan they can afford, even on their own.

Low and No Cost Alternatives
If you find you cannot afford health insurance for your child(ren), there are state and federally funded options that may be able to help. The State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) and Medicaid aim to help America's poorest families find insurance for their children. Many states have their own programs as well. California, for example, has programs such as Medi-Cal (California's Medicaid program which pays for a variety of medical services for children and adults with limited income and resources. Medi-Cal is free for those families who qualify) and the Healthy Families program (which provides low cost health care to children who are under the age of 19 and are not eligible for Medi-Cal with family incomes less than 250 percent of the federal poverty level). Check your state's website to find information about its unique no-cost or low-cost health care programs.

Conclusion
Over nine million children are uninsured in the U.S. Do not let you child(ren) be a part of this alarming statistic. Get and maintain health insurance for your children to ensure that they grow up healthy and happy.

Partner Center