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Model Application Template for the State Children’s Health Insurance Program

Effective Date:

Approval Date: 6 According to data from the Nebraska Department of Education, approximately two-thirds of Nebraska’s school children participated daily in the school lunch program in December 1997. Of that two-thirds, almost 69,000 children were eligible for free lunches and another 26,000 children were eligible for reduced- price lunches. One third of the total school enrollment are eligible for free or reduced lunches.

Total number eligible for reduced price lunches (between 130 and 185% FPL 25,953 Total number eligible for free lunches (less than 130% FPL 68,930 Total avg. daily participation in school lunch 202,023 Total school enrollment in NE 299,852

Race: Of the children under 18 residing in Nebraska in 1990, approximately 89.6% of the children were white and 10.4% were non-white. Of the children who are currently Medicaid eligible, approximately 69.1% of the children are white and 30.9% are non-white. Applying those race percentages to the number of children under 100% of FPL, 40,406 are white and 18,068 are non-white. Of children under 185% of FPL, 103,711 are white and 46,377 are non-white. White children comprised the majority of births in 1996. Of the 23, 271 births in 1996, 21, 299 (91.1%) were white and 2,071 (8.9%) were non-white births. The 1995 Kids Count report (using data from the Health and Human Services System) shows 9% of children age 19 and under were non-white. Geographical Distribution: Over one half of all children (age 18 and under) in Nebraska reside in rural areas according to the 1990 Census. 223,355 children live in the six metropolitan counties (based on U.S. Census definitions) of Cass, Dakota, Douglas, Lancaster, Sarpy, and Washington. 228,253 children reside in all other counties.

Number of Uninsured Children:

Although private insurance and public sector coverage efforts have helped expand health coverage of children in Nebraska, some children still have no coverage. Based on Census Bureau estimates for 1993-95, 7.0% of Nebraska’s children have no public or private coverage; for 1994 -96, the estimate was 6.8%. The percent has remained constant over years 1989- 1993. Those children are apt to have 38% fewer medical visits than children with insurance (National Center for Children in Poverty, 1991: Waterman and Woodford, 1993). Medicaid expenditures for children newly eligible for the program have significant dental costs partially due to lack of regular dental