Report Shows Number Of Uninsured Minnesota Children Increasing

Main Category: Health Insurance / Medical Insurance
Article Date: 25 Apr 2006 - 14:00 PDT

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The number of uninsured children in Minnesota increased to 68,000 in 2004, up from 56,000 in 2001, according to a report released Wednesday by the Children's Defense Fund-Minnesota, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. For the report, researchers analyzed data collected earlier this year by the Minnesota Health Department that indicated an increase in the uninsured population. According to the report, the percentage of uninsured children younger than age five grew from 4% to 7% between 2001 and 2004. In addition, researchers found that the percentage of uninsured children was significantly higher outside the Twin Cities area, with nearly 10% of children in northeastern Minnesota uninsured. According to Jim Koppel, executive director of the Children's Defense Fund-Minnesota, the state likely still ranks in the top five states for the percentage of children with health care coverage. The report attributed the increase in uninsured children in part to reductions in eligibility for the state's subsidized health care programs and the rising costs of private health care coverage. Koppel also cited the complexity of forms and red tape for subsidized programs, as well as recent cuts in outreach programs aimed at finding eligible residents. Sen. Linda Berglin (D) said the Senate is considering a bill that would provide coverage to 15,000 uninsured residents, about half of whom are children, by removing barriers in MinnesotaCare and Medical Assistance programs. In addition, other bills are aimed at streamlining the application, which is 12 pages long, the Star Tribune reports (Smith, Minneapolis Star Tribune, 4/19). The report is available online. Note: You must have Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the report.

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