Georgia children still lacking health care

By Jon-Michael Sullivan

At a time when health care reform has received national attention, Georgia has the 14th highest percentage of uninsured children in the nation, according to the United States Census Department.

About 307,000 children are uninsured in Georgia; more than 3,500 children under the age of 19 are uninsured in Athens-Clarke Country, according to the census data.

"First and foremost, the issue is a humanitarian one," said Michael Smith, volunteer coordinator for the Athens-Clarke County chapter of Organizing for America, formerly Obama for America, Health Care Campaign.

Without access to preventative care, uninsured children are more likely to develop long-term health issues. Delayed care is typically more expensive and less effective, according to Voices for Georgia's Children, an independent policy development and advocacy group.

Families with income less than 133 percent of the federal poverty level, $24,360 for a family of three, qualify for Medicaid.

If a family does not qualify for Medicaid but makes up to 235 percent of the federal poverty level, $43,029 for a family of three for example, the child may be enrolled in PeachCare, the state’s children’s health insurance program. The cost varies but does not exceed $70.

These two programs act as safety nets, especially during a recession.

"The more unstable the economy, the more unstable peoples' lives are, including health insurance coverage," Smith said.

Georgia's unemployment rate is more than 10 percent; however, 85 percent of uninsured children in Georgia comes from families where at least one parent works. And more than two-thirds come from low-income families, who are likely eligible for Medicaid or PeachCare.
Smith said there are many reasons the number of uninsured children is high despite the availability of health care for low-income families.

“The Medicaid system is broken,” Smith said. “The reason is because it’s underfunded; the rules are changed to knock people off the rolls.”

Under PeachCare, there is a provision that children must be uninsured for six months before applying for the program. Additionally, if payment for the program is received late, the child loses eligibility for 30 days and must reapply.

"The burden is wholly on the person to enroll in these programs," said Russell Edwards, president of the University of Georgia Law Democrats from Peachtree City, Ga. " For someone who has two or three jobs, that usually means taking a day off of work, and if they find out that they qualify, they have to prepare all the materials, the tax forms and birth certificates.”

Edwards said that the amount of paperwork is cumbersome and is another hurdle for low-income families. He also said that awareness of health care programs available to families should be increased.

“A robust advertising campaign that could help spread the information on how to effectively enroll in these programs would be a good way to get people on board,” Edwards said. “I know I've never seen any advertisement anywhere on how to enroll in PeachCare.”

Edited by Beth Pollak