Uninsured Rates for Young Children Hit Decade High

A recent report from Georgetown University's Center for Children and Families reveals a concerning trend in U.S. healthcare: the number of uninsured children under the age of six has risen significantly. Between 2022 and 2024, the uninsured rate for this demographic increased by 23%, leaving an additional 220,000 babies, toddlers, and preschoolers without health coverage.

While states such as Arkansas, Texas, Florida, and Arizona report some of the highest uninsured rates in the country, North Carolina has managed to remain below the national average. In 2024, North Carolina's uninsured rate for young children was 4.2%, compared to the national average of 5.3%.

Experts attribute North Carolina's relative success to strategic policy decisions. Joan Alker, executive director of the Center for Children and Families, noted that the state took a cautious, deliberate approach when ending pandemic-era Medicaid continuous enrollment. North Carolina and Kentucky were among the only states to implement a longer hold on disenrollment specifically for children. Furthermore, the state utilized a federal 1115 waiver to maintain continuous coverage for children up to age six and expanded Medicaid in December 2023, which encouraged more parents to seek coverage for their children.

Despite these local successes, the national outlook remains bleak. Enrollment in Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) has declined by two million children in recent years. Additionally, the Congressional Budget Office predicts that another three million children could lose coverage due to spending cuts in H.R. 1.

While some policymakers argue that Medicaid expansion is financially unsustainable and that cuts are necessary to offset tax reductions, health advocates argue that coverage is a matter of economic security. Alker emphasizes that without insurance, a single emergency room visit can bankrupt a family, making any gap in coverage a dangerous risk.