As a pediatrician, I will always remember “Marie,” a girl who nearly died in a fire that claimed the lives of her mother and brother. In critical condition due to her burns and lung injuries, Marie needed to move to another state to be with her father. However, her transfer could not be done immediately. Marie’s mother died just before the girl’s health insurance could be renewed, and this administrative inconvenience unnecessarily delayed the girl’s reunion with her father.
Unfortunately, Marie’s temporary loss of health insurance is not a unique case and is particularly common in children with Medicaid or Child Health Plus (CHP). Dealing with follow-up paperwork and deadlines can be a challenge for everyone, but even more so for low-income parents who may have to deal with frequent changes in income or family circumstances.
No family should have to jump through administrative hoops to have consistent access to high-quality care for their children, and I am glad that many of New York’s elected officials agree with this premise. As part of the state budget process underway in Albany, Governor Hochul and lawmakers are seeking federal approval to offer continuous Medicaid and CHP coverage to children from birth to age six. This means that once enrolled, children would automatically remain enrolled in Medicaid or CHP until their sixth birthday. Eliminating the hassle of renewing health insurance would protect children like Marie from gaps in coverage.
We know that children who go through periods without Medicaid coverage are more likely from experiencing delays in the care they need, unmet medical needs, and unfilled prescriptions. When coverage is interrupted, even for short periods, children are at risk of not being able to attend well-child visits, immunization visits, and other routine care that contributes to a healthy childhood.
Healthfirst offers Medicaid and CHP coverage to 600,000 children in New York City, Long Island and also in Westchester, Rockland, Sullivan and Orange counties. Continuous coverage for children from birth to age six will help ensure that our pediatric members and other young New Yorkers can get the care they need, when they need it.
From my years of practice in primary care pediatrics, I can say that easy and consistent access to high-quality primary care is the only way to prevent the health disparities and chronic diseases we see so commonly in children today. When families know their doctor appointments are covered, it is easier to maintain ongoing relationships with patients, manage chronic illnesses, and connect families to needed services in their communities. It also means that families who already have a lot to grieve don’t have to worry about renewal deadlines or the out-of-pocket expenses that can put a family into debt if there is an accidental gap in coverage on their child’s health insurance.
With uninterrupted access to Medicaid and CHP coverage, we can better care for families. Healthfirst shares with New York legislators the goal of ensuring a healthy start for all children. Implementing continuous Medicaid and CHP coverage for children from birth to age six is an important step toward that goal. Healthfirst thanks Governor Hochul and the Legislative Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Caucus for championing this initiative and members of the Assembly and Senate for supporting it in their budget proposals.
As a pediatrician, I hope this initiative is included in the final budget. This will reduce red tape to protect access to care for New York’s children with Medicaid and CHP, making an invaluable investment in their healthy future.
Dr. Maja Castillo is a pediatrician and medical director of pediatrics at Healthfirst, New York State’s largest nonprofit health insurance company, which has earned the trust of more than 2 million members by ensuring access to low-priced, high-quality health care.
2024-03-31 00:13:00
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