Washington, D.C.-- Dr. Jennifer L. Howse, president of the March of Dimes, made the following statement about release this week of U.S. Census Bureau data on health insurance coverage of women of childbearing age and children compiled for the March of Dimes:
“The Census report reveals alarming news about the number of uninsured children under age 19, which rose by over 300,000, leaving 11.6 percent (9 million) of the nation's 78 million children under age 19 uninsured in 2005.
“Moreover, one in five women of childbearing age—12.9 million—was uninsured in 2005. These women accounted for 28% of all uninsured Americans.
“The disappointing news about uninsured children emphasizes how Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) remain critical to the health of children nationally. As many as 1 in 3 children rely on these programs for coverage at some point during the year. The increasing number of uninsured children will also be central to the debate during the upcoming deliberations on SCHIP reauthorization in 2007.
“The March of Dimes is committed to strengthening SCHIP to improve the health of pregnant women, infants and children. During the reauthorization debate, the March of Dimes will advocate for giving states greater flexibility to use SCHIP to provide wraparound insurance to supplement private insurance for children with special needs and cover pregnant women under the program without a federal waiver.
“Since individual health plan coverage is not available to an uninsured pregnant woman, and given that half of pregnancies are unplanned, it is alarming to see that 21% of women of childbearing age are still uninsured in 2005. The March of Dimes is committed to achieving comprehensive maternity coverage for all women of childbearing years. Women who receive prenatal care are more likely to have access to screening and diagnostic tests that can help to identify problems early and such care may help improve the health of both mothers and infants. For instance, prenatal care is essential to identifying risks associated with preterm birth. With over a half million babies born preterm each year in the United States, prematurity continues to be a vital public health issue that needs to be addressed by federal policymakers.”
The March of Dimes is a national voluntary health agency whose mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects and infant mortality. Founded in 1938, the March of Dimes funds programs of research, community services, education, and advocacy and in 2003 launched a multi-year campaign to address the increasing rate of premature birth. For more information, visit the March of Dimes Web site at marchofdimes.com or its Spanish Web site at nacersano.org.
1 Family Planning Perspectives, Alan Guttmacher Institute. Volume 30, Number 1, January/February 1998. “Unintended Pregnancy in the United States”
