Public Coverage Provides Vital Safety Net for Children with Special Health Care Needs

Originally published by the Center for Studying Health System Change (HSC), 2005.

Public Coverage Provides Critical Safety Net for Children with Special Health Care Needs

Children with special health care needs, including those with chronic physical, developmental, behavioral, or emotional conditions requiring health services beyond what most children need, rely heavily on public insurance coverage as a safety net. HSC research examined the role of Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) in providing coverage for these vulnerable children and found that public programs played a vital role in ensuring access to the specialized services they required.

Many children with special health care needs have conditions that generate costs exceeding what typical employer-sponsored insurance plans cover adequately. Public coverage programs often provide more comprehensive benefits for these children, including therapies, durable medical equipment, and specialized services that private plans may limit or exclude. For families with low or moderate incomes, the availability of public coverage can mean the difference between their children receiving needed care and going without. The findings underscored the importance of maintaining strong public coverage programs for children with complex health needs, particularly during periods when state budgets face pressure to cut spending.

Sources and Further Reading

Center for Studying Health System Change, "Public Coverage Provides Vital Safety Net for Children with Special Health Care Needs" (2005).