HHS
Secretary Tommy G. Thompson today released an HHS report that shows
American children are significantly more likely to have health insurance
today than in 1997, when the bi-partisan State Children’s Health
Insurance Program (SCHIP) was enacted into law.
In
2001, 10.8 percent of American children did not have health coverage, down
from 13.9 percent in 1997, according to the new report from HHS’ Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). During that period, the number
of children without health insurance fell from 9.9 million to 7.8 million
– meaning more than 2 million fewer children were uninsured. The
reduction occurred as HHS worked with States to establish programs in
every State to expand health coverage to uninsured children.
"This
report shows that governors have turned SCHIP into a genuine success
story, with healthier children all across America. Still, we know we must
do more," Secretary Thompson said. "Since President Bush took
office, we have given governors more flexibility to use SCHIP to expand
coverage in their states. We’ve also asked Congress to give States more
time to use unspent SCHIP funds so we can build on our successes in
getting children health coverage."
SCHIP
is a State and Federal partnership designed to help children without
health insurance, many of whom come from working families with incomes too
high to qualify for Medicaid but too low to afford private health
insurance. According to State figures, about 4.6 million children received
health coverage through SCHIP at some point in fiscal year 2001. SCHIP
plans operate in all 50 states, 5 territories and the District of
Columbia.
In addition, HHS has
approved more than 100 amendments to improve SCHIP plans, as well as
demonstration programs for 6 States to provide coverage to even more
children and adults. These efforts are part of Secretary Thompson's
initiative to work with States to improve and expand benefits for low
income Americans, including a special effort to clear a backlog of
requests by States. Since January 2001, HHS has approved a total of more
than 1,900 plan amendments and waivers for SCHIP and Medicaid programs.
These waivers and amendments have expanded the opportunity for States to
provide health coverage for some 1.8 million Americans and expand existing
benefits to 4.5 million.
The CDC
report also found that overall health insurance coverage has improved. The
percentage of Americans without health insurance fell to 14.1 percent in
2001 from 15.4 percent in 1997. Non-Hispanic whites were the group most
likely to have health coverage, with 10.3 percent lacking health insurance
in 2001. In comparison, 17.3 percent of non-Hispanic blacks and 31.6
percent of Hispanics did not have health insurance.
The new
report is based on 2001 data from the National Health Interview Survey, an
annual survey conducted by CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics
to assess key trends in health care, including access to health insurance.
Other indicators include influenza vaccination, pneumococcal vaccination,
obesity, leisure time physical activity, health status, smoking, excessive
alcohol consumption, HIV testing, personal care needs, having a usual
place for health care and failing to obtain needed medical care.
The
report also found that adults and children were more likely in 2001 than
in previous years to have a usual place for health care –-86 percent of
adults and 94 percent of children in 2001. However, there was also a
growing number of Americans (from 4.2 percent in 1998 to 4.7 percent in
2001) who reported that they did not obtain needed medical care due to
financial hardship.
In addition, the report
shows that the annual percentage of older Americans who received a
vaccination against influenza in the past year -- which had been on the rise
from 1997 to 1999 –- declined from 65.7 percent in 1999 to 64.3 percent
in 2000, and to 63.0 percent in 2001 due to the delay in influenza vaccine
available for the two recent seasons. At the same time, more older
Americans are reporting having received a pneumococcal vaccination –- up
from 42.4 percent in 1997 to 53.8 percent in 2001.
"Vaccinations are
not only effective, but a cost-effective means of preventing disease and
ensuring good health to citizens of all ages," said CDC Director Dr.
Julie L. Gerberding, M.D., M.P.H. "We need to do all we can to make
it possible for our adults -- just as we do for our children -- to protect
their health through vaccinations.
The report, "Early
Release of Selected Estimates Based on Data from the 2001 National Health
Interview Survey" can be viewed or downloaded at the NCHS
home page. For more information
on the survey and related data check the survey Web site at the NHIS
home page.