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Trends in Private Insurance, Medicaid/State Children's Health Insurance Program, and the Healthcare Safety Net
Author(s) -
Shields Alexandra E.,
McGinnShapiro Mary,
Fronstin Paul
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1196/annals.1425.029
Subject(s) - safety net , medicaid , business , private insurance , health insurance , health care , actuarial science , self insurance , environmental health , economic growth , medicine , economics
This chapter examines trends in private and public health coverage, as well as implications for vulnerable populations and health disparities. We find that there has been erosion in employment‐based health benefits. Both the percentage of employers offering coverage and the percentage of workers with coverage declined in recent years. Those with coverage face eroding benefits and increased cost sharing. Within the public sector, Medicaid enrollment has decreased, with benefits increasingly restricted. Although State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) enrollment has increased among low‐income children, the future of SCHIP remains uncertain. Meeting the healthcare needs of Americans and reducing health disparities requires both the provision of health coverage to all and sufficient comprehensiveness of benefits within private and public programs to meet enrollees' healthcare needs. Our findings suggest that we have a long way to go in reaching these goals.