Number Of Uninsured North Carolina Children Increased Since 2001, Report Finds

Main Category: Pediatrics / Children's Health
Also Included In: Health Insurance / Medical Insurance
Article Date: 17 Oct 2007 - 8:00 PDT

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The number of uninsured children in North Carolina increased by 20% since 2001, according to an annual report by Action for Children North Carolina and North Carolina Institute of Medicine, the Raleigh News & Observer reports. According to the report, 13.2% of children in the state were uninsured last year. The report showed improvement in children's health in some areas since 2001, including fewer asthma-related hospitalizations, fewer teen pregnancies and fewer children poisoned by lead. However, the report also found that nearly 29.5% of teenagers from low-income families are overweight -- a 13.5% increase from 2001 -- and less than half of Medicaid-eligible children receive any dental services. The report found that one in five North Carolina children goes to kindergarten with untreated tooth decay. In addition, the number of North Carolina children enrolled in public health insurance programs increased by 36% since 2001, according to the report (Sadgrove, Raleigh News & Observer, 10/15).

The report is available online (.pdf).

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