Report chronicles states’ efforts to cover low-income, childless adults

A report from the National Academy of State Health Policy found that 23 states, plus the  District of Columbia, have attempted to create affordable coverage options for the low-income, childless adults, a group that makes up about one-third of the uninsured population (Source: "State Efforts to Cover Low-Income Adults Without Children," State Health Policy Monitor, Sept. 2008).

The primary reason that the low-income adults with no children composes such a large percentage of the uninsured population is that unless they are elderly or disabled, they do not qualify for Medicaid.

Although Ohio currently has no program to address coverage for low-income adults without children, the issue was raised in the State Coverage Initiative’s report to Gov. Ted Strickland. The SCI report found that there are about 182,000 uninsured Ohioans living below 100 percent of the federal poverty level. The report proposes addressing the issue by enrolling low-income, childless adults in plans offered by Medicaid managed care organizations.