New Jersey Can Achieve Universal Health Coverage for Kids

Advocates, experts and elected officials lay out a roadmap to cover more children

As a new administration and legislature take the reins in Trenton, New Jersey has a historic opportunity to guarantee that all children in the state have health coverage, according to advocates, experts and elected officials who outlined how to make it happen at a Trenton press conference today.

New Jersey has already made progress toward this goal, but more can – and must – be done, according to a report released today by New Jersey Policy Perspective (NJPP). (The report is available online at: https://www.njpp.org/healthcare/coverallkids)

The state has reduced the uninsurance rate for children to 3.5 percent – a major accomplishment. But there are still 70,000 children who remain uninsured, and 20 states – including every Northeastern state but Maine – have even lower rates. What’s more, New Jersey has one of the largest disparities in health coverage between white and Hispanic children in the nation, with Hispanic kids more than 3 times more likely than their white neighbors to be uninsured.

Of these 70,000 uninsured New Jersey kids, half (35,000) are undocumented immigrant children who are not eligible for NJ FamilyCare coverage and an additional 12,000 are kids in middle-class families who can no longer buy into NJ FamilyCare, since New Jersey ended the buy-in program in 2014. The remaining 23,000 uninsured children are eligible for NJ FamilyCare but are not participating due to administrative barriers and a lack of intensive outreach.

NJPP’s report identifies 10 actions the state should take to make healthcare coverage through NJ FamilyCare accessible to all children, including:

• Stop excluding children because of their immigration status
• Reinstate the buy-in program for middle-class families
• Remove administrative barriers that prevent eligible children from enrolling, like locking kids out of coverage for 90 days if a payment is missed

Insuring these uncovered children is not only a moral imperative for New Jersey, it is cost-effective, incremental, realistic and affordable – important considerations given the state’s bleak financial situation. In fact, investing in the wellbeing of these kids now will likely save the state money in the long run.

NJPP estimates it would eventually cost $66.5 million a year – or less than one half of one percent of all Medicaid expenditures – to cover the state’s undocumented immigrant children. That is a third-year cost; the first year cost to the state is much less, at $10 million. What’s more, these estimates do not include state savings that would be achieved in charity care, other federal funds the state can claim for emergency care, and long-range health and social savings resulting from better health for kids. NJPP recommends an additional $2 million in state funding for outreach – an excellent investment because the $2 million would be immediately matched, and then the state would obtain even more federal Medicaid funds to help cover the additional children who are enrolled. And there is zero state cost to reinstate the buy-in program for middle-class families (they pay the full cost of coverage).

QUOTES FROM PRESS CONFERENCE PARTICIPANTS:

Senator Joseph Vitale, Chairman of the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee, and the author of the law creating NJ FamilyCare:

“New Jersey has made important strides in ensuring that children across our state have health care coverage, but clearly we must do more. I want to thank NJPP for undertaking this important analysis. I look forward to working with the new administration and my colleagues to ensure that our children have access to the care they deserve and that we are extending health care coverage to as many children as possible in the state.”

Ray Castro, Director of Health Policy, New Jersey Policy Perspective, and report author:

“New Jersey has made tremendous progress in insuring more children, thanks to proactive state-level policies and to the Affordable Care Act. Now it’s time to finish the job. Thankfully, universal coverage for New Jersey children isn’t just a lofty policy idea – it’s a realistic goal that can be easily achieved by making some sensible and affordable policy changes. The state can achieve universal coverage for the Garden State’s kids – and it must act to do so now.”

Fran Gallagher, Chief Executive Officer, American Academy of Pediatrics – New Jersey Chapter:

“Access to quality pediatric health care is the foundation for one’s lifelong trajectory of health, education and financial outcomes. In order to play and to learn, to experience academic success, and to become part of the work force, health is key. All children need access regardless of their parents’ financial status or their ZIP code. Pediatricians use a family centered approach to provide a medical home and to be a link of continuity for providing family centered, comprehensive healthcare – all children need this, especially the most vulnerable.”

Neil Eicher, Vice President, Government Relations & Policy, New Jersey Hospital Association:

“We’re fortunate in New Jersey to have a statewide safety net of hospitals ensuring access to care for all, but no child should have to use the emergency room as a medical home. We can all agree that health insurance coverage is the very best way to ensure that our kids enjoy every opportunity for good health.”

Johanna Calle, Director, New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice:

“All of us should be able to live with dignity and respect, regardless of immigration status. One group that would benefit from the policy changes outlined in NJPP’s report is undocumented children, who face greater health barriers than other children. Many of them live in mixed-status families and every day their families must negotiate their basic needs, forcing many to make heartbreaking decisions. We look forward to making sure all families – including those without legal status – are healthy, which will ultimately make our communities better for all”.

Renee Koubiadis, Executive Director, Anti-Poverty Network of New Jersey:

“The lack of health coverage can be a major cause for poverty. Many low- and moderate-income families in New Jersey can’t even afford the high housing costs in our state – much less exorbitant medical bills that can lead to their bankruptcy. Even middle-class families are having trouble paying for much higher premiums caused by federal actions to undermine the marketplace. No family in New Jersey should have to decide between paying for their child’s health care or the rent. We can and must do better to help low-income children obtain health insurance.”

Juan Garcia, Make the Road New Jersey youth leader:

“As an immigrant youth living in New Jersey, I don’t have the choice to enroll in NJ Family Care or have my family purchase private insurance on the marketplace. That means my mother and I have to worry about doctor’s bills and whether I can get a check up. It’s time for our state to stand up for immigrant kids and ensure we can all have access to health care and a healthy future.”

Rev. Sara Lilja, Director, The Lutheran Episcopal Advocacy Ministry of New Jersey:

“People of faith are compelled by God’s justice. Our search for justice is a call from God … a concern especially for the ‘rights of the needy’ (Jeremiah 5:28). The health of New Jersey’s children is at its core a justice issue because health is central for children’s growth and development. A just society is one that supports the health of all its members, especially children. All children are healthier when all kids have access to health care. New Jersey must move legislation to assure that all kids are covered by insurance that their families can afford.”

Chris Estevez, President, The Latino Action Network:

“This report highlights the great need for universal health care and more outreach for all children regardless of status, which includes many Latino children. We agree that New Jersey can be more inclusive, since it ranks 22nd in insuring Latino children. In order to achieve health care for all kids, the Latino community is key.”