Children's Health Insurance - E-News from Rhode Island KIDS COUNT
September 25, 2015
U.S. Census Bureau: Rhode Island Improves in Children's Health Insurance Coverage; Child Poverty Remains Unchanged
Rhode Island KIDS COUNT recently released new data from the U.S. Census Bureau's 2014 American Community Survey (ACS). The ACS provides national and state-level data on health insurance coverage, poverty, and income. 

According to the ACS, in 2014:

Health insurance:
  • 96.7% of Rhode Island's children had health insurance coverage.
  • 3.3% (an estimated 7,107) Rhode Island children lacked health insurance coverage.
  • 6% of all U.S. children lacked health insurance coverage.
  • Rhode Island ranks 7th in the nation and 3rd in New England for children's health insurance coverage. 
  • Of the children who had health insurance in Rhode Island in 2014:
    • 52.5% received coverage exclusively through their parents' employer-sponsored health plan, 
    • 34% were covered exclusively by Medicaid/RIte Care, and 
    • 14% had either another type of coverage or combination of coverage.
Poverty:
  • 19.8% (nearly 1 in 5) of Rhode Island's children lived in poverty.
  • Rhode Island ranks 26th in the nation - and last in New England - for the percentage of children in poverty.
  • 21.7 % of all U.S. children lived in poverty.

For more, please see our media release.
RI Health Coverage Workshop 
On September 22, 2015, the Rhode Island Health Coverage Project hosted a Workshop attended by 150 community helpers. The Workshop included presentations by staff from HealthSource RI, the RI Department of Human Services, the RI Health Center Association, RI Parent Information Network, RIREACH, RI Legal Services, the Economic Progress Institute, and Rhode Island KIDS COUNT. Topics included the basics of coverage and Medicaid renewal, HealthSource RI open enrollment and renewal, and Community Assistance for health coverage.

Please click here to view all Workshop materials and presentations! 

The Rhode Island Health Coverage Project is a joint initiative of the Economic Progress Institute and Rhode Island KIDS COUNT.
TeethFirst! - New Blog Postings and Bilingual Videos!
 

The TeethFirst! initiative continues to spread the word about the importance of early dental visits throughout Rhode Island. 

TeethFirst! is proud to share two videos with Spanish subtitles, featuring RI dental providers and families. 
These videos are available for you to share, via TeethFirst!'s YouTube channel, or you can order free copies on DVD by emailing [email protected].

Tooth Talk is the initiative's bilingual blog, and is regularly updated with new postings. 

Be sure to check out the latest Tooth Talk blog postings:
Save the Date! Celebration of Children's Health Luncheon
Rhode Island KIDS COUNT's annual Celebration of Children's Health Luncheon will be held on Monday, November 16, 2015 from 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm. A formal invitation will follow, but please note the date and time in your calendar. 

For more information, please contact Katherine Chu, Communications Coordinator, Rhode Island KIDS COUNT.
Visit us at www.rikidscount.org
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Rhode Island KIDS COUNT works to improve the health, education, safety, economic security and development of Rhode Island's children.