Coverage, Utilization, and Health Outcomes of the State Children's Health Insurance Program

Abstract

This paper uses data from the National Survey of America's Families (1997–2002) to explore the links between eligibility for the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), health insurance coverage, medical care utilization, and health outcomes. We find that SCHIP significantly increased health insurance coverage rates for American children between 1997 and 2002, with most of the gains in coverage for older children. Higher coverage rates translated into increased utilization of the types of medical care that would be expected to improve children's health, such as well-child doctor visits. The effects of SCHIP eligibility expansions on health outcomes, however, are relatively small.