CHIP and Medicaid Child Enrollment in the Great Plains Region

According to the National Health Interview Survey (2019), about 41% of American children under the age of 18 have publicly supported health insurance coverage. While health insurance plans for government employees, including military personnel, account for some of the child enrollment in publicly supported health insurance programs, the vast majority of such coverage is provided by Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Medicaid and CHIP are joint state-federal health insurance programs for eligible Americans with limited income and resources.  Medicaid is aimed at low income individuals and families, while CHIP is designed specifically for children from poor families with incomes too high to qualify for standard Medicaid coverage.  Federal reports from September 2020 reveal that there were 37.4 million individuals who were either enrolled in CHIP or who were children enrolled in the Medicaid program.

September 2020 data shows us that the seven-state Great Plains region accounted for about 3.6% of American children who were enrolled in CHIP and 6.1% of U.S. children enrolled in the Medicaid program.  Here is a deeper look at the numbers for CHIP and Medicaid Child enrollment in the Great Plains region:

CHIP and Medicaid Child Enrollment in the Great Plains Region

State	(1) CHIP	(2) Medicaid Child	Total
IA	80.2	272.8	353.0
KS	64.4	221.3	285.7
MN	1.3	558.3	559.6
MO	40.4	567.8	608.2
ND	2.5	45.5	48.0
NE	34.4	140.0	174.4
SD	16.1	67.8	83.9
Region	239.3	1,873.5	2,112.8
U.S.	6,719.1	30,641.9	37,361.0

(1) CHIP enrollment, in thousands

(2) Children enrolled in Medicaid plans, in thousands (derived by deducting State reported CHIP enrollment from State Reported Total Medicaid Child and CHIP enrollment)

Source: Medicaid.gov Enrollment Reports as of September, 2020