PEDIATRICS Vol. 90 No. 4 October 1992, pp. 589-596
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow P3Rs: Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when P3Rs are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow E-mail this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My File Cabinet
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via CrossRef
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Newacheck, P. W.
Right arrow Articles by Gephart, J.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Newacheck, P. W.
Right arrow Articles by Gephart, J.

Health Insurance Coverage of Adolescents: A Current Profile and Assessment of Trends

Paul W. Newacheck DrPH1, Margaret A. McManus MHS2, and Joann Gephart MSN, RN3

1 From the Institute for Health Policy Studies, University of California, San Francisco
2 From the McManus Health Policy, Inc. Washington, DC
3 From the Division of Maternal, Infant, Child and Adolescent Health, Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Rockville, MD.

Data from the National Health Interview Survey reveal that 4.7 million or 15% of US adolescents aged 10 through 18 were uninsured in 1989. Among adolescents, 73% were privately insured, 10% were publicly insured, and 2% were both privately and publicly insured. Poor, near-poor, and minority adolescents were at the greatest risk for lack of health insurance coverage. Among adolescents without insurance, cost continued to be cited as the leading barrier to obtaining coverage. A comparison of 1989 National Health Interview Survey data with a previous analysis, in which 1984 data were used, revealed a 10% increase in the proportion of adolescents without insurance coverage. The increase in the proportion of uninsured adolescents was entirely attributable to an erosion of private health insurance coverage. No significant change occurred in the proportion of adolescents with coverage under public programs. Planned expansions of the federally and state-financed Medicaid programs will help to stem further increases in the size of the uninsured adolescent population. However, unless marked improvements occur in the private health insurance sector, progress will be limited.

Key Words: adolescents • health insurance • Medicaid

Submitted on November 1, 1991
Accepted on March 30, 1992




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 JAMAHome page
P. W. Newacheck, M. J. Park, C. D. Brindis, M. Biehl, and C. E. Irwin Jr
Trends in Private and Public Health Insurance for Adolescents
JAMA, March 10, 2004; 291(10): 1231 - 1237.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Am. J. Public HealthHome page
L.-T. Wu, A. C. Kouzis, and W. E. Schlenger
Substance Use, Dependence, and Service Utilization Among the US Uninsured Nonelderly Population
Am J Public Health, December 1, 2003; 93(12): 2079 - 2085.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 PediatricsHome page
P. W. Newacheck, C. D. Brindis, C. U. Cart, K. Marchi, C. E. Irwin, and J. MD
Adolescent Health Insurance Coverage: Recent Changes and Access to Care
Pediatrics, August 1, 1999; 104(2): 195 - 202.
[Abstract] [Full Text]

Home page
 PediatricsHome page
A. Ziv, J. R. Boulet, and G. B. Slap
Utilization of Physician Offices by Adolescents in the United States
Pediatrics, July 1, 1999; 104(1): 35 - 42.
[Abstract] [Full Text]

Home page
 PediatricsHome page
A. Ziv, J. R. Boulet, and G. B. Slap
Emergency Department Utilization by Adolescents in the United States
Pediatrics, June 1, 1998; 101(6): 987 - 994.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]