UCLA Center for Health Policy Research

Using data from the 2001 California Health Interview Survey, this study examines participation (and lack of participation) by eligible children in California’s Medi-Cal and Healthy Families programs. The study also identifies both family characteristics and county characteristics that affect children’s enrollment. The study identifies many ways that children can “fall off” the enrollment path or might become disenrolled. Almost 20% of Medi-Cal eligible children and almost 40% of Healthy Families eligible children remained uninsured in 2001. The study finds that the rate of enrollment for eligible children is variable across counties, children’s ages, race and ethnicity, citizenship status, urban vs. rural residences, and type of outreach approaches used. The authors make recommendations to improve access to health insurance coverage of all children who are eligible to enroll in the Medi-Cal and Healthy Families programs.