Uninsured Rate for Children Under 6 Rose 23% Between 2022 and 2024
The number of uninsured children under age 6 increased 23% between 2022 and 2024, reaching the highest level in nearly a decade, compared to a 17% increase for school-aged children. The disproportionate rise among infants, toddlers, and preschoolers coincides with the end of Medicaid continuous enrollment protections that expired in spring 2023. Young children are particularly vulnerable to coverage gaps during redeterminations because families with infants and toddlers move more frequently and face higher procedural disenrollment rates. The trend reflects ongoing challenges in states' unwinding processes and parent awareness of eligibility rules for young children.
MCOs face enrollment volatility and higher costs when young children churn between coverage and emergency department use, and states may implement targeted redetermination processes or presumptive eligibility expansions that affect plan operations.
CHIP · Managed Care
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