Montana Ranks Eighth Worst Nationally in Rate of Uninsured Children

More than One Child in Eight in Montana Lacks Health Insurance Coverage, and the Economic Downturn Is Likely to Drive This Number Higher

Washington, D.C.—There are 31,000 uninsured children in Montana—more than one out of eight children in the state (13.7 percent)—according to a new report released today by Families USA, the national organization for health care consumers.

The report, based on new Census Bureau data, reflects the three-year period 2005-2007 and therefore does not reflect the worsening economic situation in 2008.

The Families USA report, titled “Left Behind: Montana’s Uninsured Children,” spotlights the following facts about uninsured children in the state:

• 31,000 children are uninsured in Montana—more than one out of eight, or 13.7 percent of Montana’s children. These numbers place Montana eighth nationally for the percentage of children in the state without health insurance.
   
• Montana’s uninsured children come from working families. In Montana, the vast majority of uninsured children (91.9 percent) come from families where at least one parent works, and nearly three-quarters—or 71 percent—live in households where at least one family member works full-time, year-round.
    
• More than half, or 60.6 percent, of Montana’s uninsured children come from low-income families (families with incomes below twice the poverty level, or $35,200 for a family of three in 2008) who are likely eligible for Medicaid or CHIP.

Last year, the Congress voted to reauthorize the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which would have expanded health coverage throughout the nation to approximately 4 million uninsured children. Although Congress passed the legislation with broad bipartisan support, the legislation failed when President Bush vetoed it.

“The children’s health legislation vetoed by the President would have provided much-needed relief to uninsured children in Montana and across the nation,” said Ron Pollack, Executive Director of Families USA. “Unfortunately, the minority of congressional members who voted with the President made it impossible to override the veto.”

The CHIP program is now scheduled to expire on March 31, 2009. As a result, the reauthorization of CHIP will be one of the earliest policy issues facing the next Congress and President.  

In 2007, more than 20,100 children in Montana received their health coverage through CHIP.

“For the numerous children in Montana who count on CHIP as their health lifeline and for the 31,000 uninsured children in the state, support for continuing and expanding CHIP is critically important,” said Pollack. “It will determine whether children get the preventive care they need so that they can remain healthy, learn in school, and become productive citizens.”

Due to the current economic downturn, Congress is also likely to consider providing higher federal matching funds to the states for the Medicaid program—the other key health safety net program for children from low-income families. Such a measure may be part of the next economic stimulus package debated in Congress, thereby enabling states to retain and expand health coverage as more families become uninsured.

“The provision of increased federal matching funds to the states for Medicaid is of growing importance,” said Pollack. “States need to expand health coverage at a time when their budgets are increasingly precarious, so increased federal help is essential.”

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Families USA is the national organization for health care consumers. It is nonprofit and nonpartisan and advocates for high-quality, affordable health care for all Americans.

1201 New York Avenue NW, Suite 1100 · Washington, DC 20005
202-628-3030 · Email: info@familiesusa.org · www.familiesusa.org