Report Reveals that Rural Children More Likely to Rely on Medicaid and State-Funded Insurance Programs than their Urban Counterparts


Last Updated: September 12, 2014
 

Compared to their urban counterparts, children in rural areas are more reliant on health insurance from public sources, including Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). In 2012, 47 percent of rural children were covered by public insurance compared to 38 percent of urban children.

In addition, the report's key findings indicate that the share of rural children who rely on Medicaid and CHIP has been climbing rapidly in recent years. The share of rural children covered by Medicaid and CHIP increased from 28 percent in 2000 to 47 percent in 2012. With federal funding for the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) scheduled to end next year, the First Focus report illustrates the importance of extending CHIP funding for children in rural America.

For more information, please visit: Rural Children Increasingly Rely on Medicaid or State-Funded Insurance Programs