The Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) released a brief examining children's health insurance coverage through public health programs.  The brief outlines national data for children's participation in Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and explores the role the programs play in covering children.

From the report: During the current recession, Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) have served as an important safety-net for children in low or moderate income families. Together, these programs insure almost one-third of all children and target those who do not have access to affordable private coverage. Despite the success and high participation rates in Medicaid and CHIP, 8.1 million children remain uninsured, and the vast majority of them are from low- and middle-income families. Provisions to strengthen coverage for children are included in both the 2009 Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act (CHIPRA) and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) of 2010.

Full report: Health Coverage of Children: The Role of Medicaid and CHIP (PDF | 467KB)

Kaiser Family Foundation.  (2010).  Health coverage of children: the role of Medicaid and CHIP.