Restricted accessResearch articleFirst published online 2003-1
Overcoming Barriers to Enrollment: A 50-State Assessment of Outreach and Enrollment Simplification Strategies for the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP)
With the creation of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) in 1997, nearly all low-income uninsured children became eligible for some public health insurance; however, millions of eligible children still lack coverage. Lack of information about the program, problems associated with the enrollment process, and welfare stigma are common barriers that inhibit children's enrollment in public health programs. States have taken deliberate steps to overcome these barriers when creating their SCHIP by using outreach mechanisms and by simplifying the enrollment process; however, each state uses a unique combination of strategies. This exploratory research attempts to determine if an association exists between specific outreach and/or enrollment simplification strategies and the states' progress in enrolling eligible children. Based on empirical statistical analysis, this paper offers suggestions to policy makers and program officials about how to improve SCHIP enrollment processes and subsequently the health of children in the respective states.
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