For Immediate Release:
Tuesday, September 13, 2016
For More Information Contact:
Patti Hassler
Vice President of Communications and Outreach
202-662-3554 office
phassler@childrensdefense.org
CDF Statement on New Data Showing Drop of 606,000 in Uninsured Children in U.S.
“We must double down on our commitment to close the gap
between the haves and have-nots.”
– Marian Wright Edelman, Children’s Defense Fund President
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Children’s Defense Fund (CDF) President Marian Wright Edelman issued the following statement today in response to the U.S. Census Bureau’s release of data showing that in 2015 nearly 3.9 million children under age 18 were uninsured compared to 4.5 million children in 2014, which means 606,000 more children were insured. The number of uninsured children in the U.S. is at a historic low.
“Today’s health insurance numbers show continued progress toward our goal for every child in America to have access to affordable, high-quality health and mental health coverage. Thanks to Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) the number of uninsured children has plummeted since 1997.
Even as we celebrate this good news for children, we must double down on our commitment to close the gap between the haves and the have-nots. The majority of uninsured children are walking through the doors of our public schools. Many of them are eligible but not enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP. CDF and AASA, The School Superintendents Association, are offering the “Insure All Children” toolkit with an easy, cost-effective way for districts across the country to engage in school-based health enrollment through routine procedures. It begins with this simple question.
Children have only one childhood so we need to race to the finish line to ensure every child in rich America has a healthy start. The evidence is all in: children with access to health coverage do better in school, are more likely to graduate, and are healthier and earn more as adults. Taking action together now will not only benefit children but will ensure a stronger economy tomorrow.”
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The Children’s Defense Fund Leave No Child Behind® mission is to ensure every child a Healthy Start, a Head Start, a Fair Start, a Safe Start and a Moral Start in life and successful passage to adulthood with the help of caring families and communities.