Covering kids: A survey to understand uninsurance rates of children in Oregon


Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

4043.0: Tuesday, December 13, 2005 - 9:45 AM

Abstract #117541

Covering kids: A survey to understand uninsurance rates of children in Oregon

Jennifer Devoe, MD, DPhil¹, Lisa Krois, MPH², Tina Edlund, MS², and Jeanene Smith, MD, MPH². (1) Department of Family Medicine, Oregon Health and Sciences University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, OR 97239, (503) 494-2826, devoej@ohsu.edu, (2) Department of Administrative Services, State of Oregon, Office of Oregon Health Policy and Research, Public Services Building, 255 Capitol St NE, 5th floor, Salem, OR 97310

BACKGROUND: Health insurance coverage is associated with greater access to health care services. Children with health insurance are 70% more likely than uninsured children to receive medical care for common childhood ailments. Children lacking health insurance coverage, on the other hand, are less likely to receive preventive health services such as immunizations, dental and vision care.

PROBLEM: Even with recent expansions in Oregon's State Child Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), nearly 105,000 children in Oregon have no health insurance. For a myriad of reasons, their parents do not or cannot enroll them in health insurance programs. Some policy experts and advocates believe that identifying specific enrollment barriers can help design new programs to reach these children and increase their access to health care services.

PURPOSE: To examine barriers to children's enrollment in health insurance programs and to describe associations between children's enrollment barriers, lack of health insurance coverage, and access to health care services.

METHODS: Cross-sectional analysis. Created and tested a unique survey instrument to collect statewide primary data from low-income families about their experiences getting coverage and accessing health care services for their children.

OUTCOMES: After assessing current health insurance status, the survey examined the structural, awareness and attitudinal barriers to publicly financed health insurance as well as levels of unmet need, health status and access to health care. Finally, the survey examined awareness of school-based health clinics and parental acceptance of school-based health care.

BENEFIT: Findings informed policy makers developing publicly financed insurance programs for children in the state.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

1. Articulate barriers identified in Oregon for enrolling children into publicly financed health insurance programs.
2. Discuss specific examples of how lack of health insurance affected children’s access to health care services in Oregon.
3. Identify key political factors that may influence health insurance coverage for children.
4. Identify potential policy interventions that might help enroll more children in publicly-financed health insurance programs
5. Develop a plan for conducting a similar cross-sectional analysis of children’s health insurance enrollment barriers in other states.

Keywords: Child/Adolescent, Policy/Policy Development

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Recorded presentation

The Impact of Financing Structures on Coverage and Care

The 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition (December 10-14, 2005) of APHA