The U.S. National Collaborative on Education and Health has found that chronic absenteeism in school is often a result of child health issues. The review reveals the states with the most and least insured children, which, in turn, highlights the importance of health coverage in each state for educational success.
The research, conducted by Pediatric Health experts Fore Genomics, examined health insurance data taken from the 2023 ACS. The national uninsured children rate was found to be 5.8% between 2022-2023. Overall, the results indicate a failure of the market system.
The percentage of the under-six population, the six to 18 years population, and the combined under-18 years population in the uninsured category were found and ranked to reveal the states with the most and fewest insured children.
Texas was found to have the highest percentage of uninsured children, with 11.9% of under 18s in this state uninsured. In this state, 8.90% of under-six-year-olds are uninsured, and 13.00% of children aged six to 18 are uninsured.
Arizona has is the state with the second highest percentage of uninsured children. 8.6% of under 18s in this state are uninsured. 9.20% of children aged between six and 18 and 7.10% of children under six are uninsured in Arizona.
In third place is Nevada, where 7.9% of children under 18 are uninsured. 6.60% of under-six’s are uninsured in Nevada, as well as 8.50% of children aged between six and 18.
Ranking fourth is Florida, where 7.5% of under 18s are uninsured. 6.20% of under-six-year-olds are uninsured in Florida, along with 8.10% of those aged six to 18.
Next up is Oklahoma, where, like Florida, 7.5% of children aged under 18 are uninsured. Also, like Florida, 8.10% of children aged six to 18 are uninsured, but a slightly lower percentage of under sixes are uninsured, 6.00%.
The state with the sixth highest rate of uninsured children is Wyoming, which recorded 7.2% of under 18s as uninsured. 8.60% of children aged under six in the state are uninsured, the second-highest percentage in this age group after Texas, and 6.70% of children aged six to 18 are uninsured.
In seventh place is South Dakota. In this state, 7.0% of children (aged under 18) are uninsured. 7.60% of under-sixes are uninsured in South Dakota, and 6.80% of those aged six to 18 are uninsured.
In eighth place is Alaska, where 6.9% of under 18s are uninsured. 5.50% of children under six are uninsured in this state, and 7.50% of children aged between six and 18 are uninsured.
Number nine in this list is Montana, with 6.8% of children aged under 18 uninsured. In this state, 6.90% of children between the ages of six and 18 are uninsured, while 6.50% of children aged under six are uninsured.
Finally, rounding off the top ten is Arkansas, where 6.7% of under 18s are uninsured. 7.30% of children aged between six and 18 in Arkansas are uninsured, along with 5.30% of children aged under six.
Conversely, the state with the lowest percentage of uninsured children is Massachusetts, where just 1.5% of children aged under 18 are uninsured. In this state, 1.20% of children aged under six are uninsured, compared to 1.60% of children aged between six and 18.
Top 10 states with the most uninsured children
| State | % Uninsured Under 6 years | % Uninsured 6 to 18 years | % Uninsured Under18 years | Under 18 Uninsured Rank |
| Texas | 8.90% | 13.00% | 11.9% | 1 |
| Arizona | 7.10% | 9.20% | 8.6% | 2 |
| Nevada | 6.60% | 8.50% | 7.9% | 3 |
| Florida | 6.20% | 8.10% | 7.5% | 4 |
| Oklahoma | 6.00% | 8.10% | 7.5% | 5 |
| Wyoming | 8.60% | 6.70% | 7.2% | 6 |
| South Dakota | 7.60% | 6.80% | 7.0% | 7 |
| Alaska | 5.50% | 7.50% | 6.9% | 8 |
| Montana | 6.50% | 6.90% | 6.8% | 9 |
| Arkansas | 5.30% | 7.30% | 6.7% | 10 |
The research provides an interesting, if concerning, picture of health insurance coverage among children across different states. Understanding these variations may lead to discussions seeking a better regulated and more equitable distribution.
