Pub. 4 2020 Issue 1

What’s more, Medicaid is particularly important to help low-income children stay healthy. In Utah, approximately 160,000 children are enrolled in Medicaid — two-thirds of all Medicaid enrollees. Decades of research show that children with Medicaid coverage had better health outcomes, higher graduation rates, and greater economic success as adults, compared to low-income children unable to obtain Medicaid. But as we know, the Supreme Court did not uphold this provision of the ACA — leaving many states who chose to simply not expand. Unfortunately, the elaborate health care marketplace the ACA set up did not account for states rejecting Med- icaid expansion. The ACA health care marketplace only allowed people to enroll if they made above the federal poverty level. As a result, in states that did not expand Medicaid, many low-income Americans were left in an “insurance coverage gap,” making too much for Medicaid, but too little to enroll in the ACA marketplace. In Utah, it was estimated that anywhere from 100,000-150,000 people were in this coverage gap and unable to get health coverage. A Look at Why Medicaid Matters for Children and Families At Voices for Utah Children, many questioned why we were fighting for full Medicaid expansion. After all, the majority of low-income children in Utah are already guaranteed Medicaid and CHIP coverage. However, children’s advocacy groups across the nation are fighting for expansion because parents need health insurance, too. When par- ents are healthier or not worried about medical bills, the whole family has better outcomes. Also, when parents are covered, children are more likely to be covered too. States that expanded Medicaid saw a significant decline in the number of uninsured children. Ensuring children is especially im - portant here in Utah, where we have one of the highest rates of uninsured children in the nation. According to the most recent census data, Utah ranked #44 with over 72,000 unin - sured children. Compared to other states in the nation, Utah also has one of the highest rates of children who are eligible for Medicaid or CHIP, but not enrolling in these programs. Medicaid expansion is one of the most effective changes states can make to not only help more adults but also ensure that more children are covered. What’s more, Medicaid is particularly important to help low-income children stay healthy. In Utah, approximately 160,000 children are enrolled in Med - icaid — two-thirds of all Medicaid en - rollees. Decades of research show that children with Medicaid coverage had better health outcomes, higher gradu - ation rates, and greater economic suc- cess as adults, compared to low-income children unable to obtain Medicaid. At its heart, Medicaid is, in many ways, a children’s program. It guarantees all children a comprehensive set of benefits, known as the acronym EPSDT (early and periodic screenings, diag - nostics and treatment). EPSDT is widely recognized as the definitive standard for children, allowing them to get preventive care and treatment before a condition escalates. Children on Medic- aid can get the care they need, without restrictions or barriers. What Lies Ahead? Additional Actions Needed As we now face a pandemic and economic downturn, Medicaid should be an important resource for families and individuals in need. Unfortunately, many Utah families do not know about Medicaid. Across the state, we need to increase Medicaid outreach and enrollment assistance. Confusion around who is eligible for Medicaid and the stigma associated with enrolling in public assistance programs often leads many families to miss out on the health care they need. Public awareness and outreach can help change this. In addition to helping families enroll in Medicaid, we also need to help them stay enrolled. Too often, eligible chil - dren or their parents lose Medicaid be - cause of a minor change in income or a missed piece of paperwork. Progress was made this past Legislative Session when the Legislature funded a policy to ensure 12-month continuous eligibility for children on Medicaid. This policy helps keeps children covered and reduces gaps in their health coverage. While the Legislature only funded con - tinuous eligibility for children through age 6, this is a critical step forward Utah Expands Medicaid | Continued on page 28 27 |