Public financial support plays an integral role in children's health insurance coverage in the United States. National Health Interview Survey (2019) data reveals that about 41% of U.S. children under the age of 18 have health insurance coverage that depends on public support. Although health benefit plans for government personnel, including the military, account for some of the child enrollment in health insurance plans supported by taxpayer dollars, it is Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) that are the two principal drivers of publicly supported health insurance coverage for American children. Federal reports indicate that, as of September 2020, there were 37.4 million individuals who were either enrolled in CHIP or who were children enrolled in the Medicaid program. Medicaid, a joint state-federal program which provides health insurance for eligible individuals with limited income and resources, covers more than 30 million American children. Another 6.7 million individuals are enrolled in CHIP plans. CHIP is a another joint state-federal program that makes available health insurance coverage to children from low-income families whose income is too high to qualify for standard Medicaid coverage.
As of September 2020, the New England states accounted for 4.1% of the national enrollment in CHIP and 3.8% of U.S. children enrolled in the Medicaid program. Here is a summary look at CHIP and Medicaid Child enrollment in New England:
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| CHIP and Medicaid Child Enrollment in New England |
| State | (1) CHIP | (2) Medicaid Child | Total |
| CT | 19.5 | 325.7 | 345.2 |
| NH | 15.2 | 80.4 | 95.6 |
| MA | 192.3 | 498.3 | 690.6 |
| ME | 12.9 | 97.8 | 110.7 |
| RI | 30.3 | 89.6 | 119.9 |
| VT | 4.3 | 58.8 | 63.1 |
| Region | 274.5 | 1,150.6 | 1,425.1 |
| U.S. | 6,719.1 | 30,641.9 | 37,361.0 |
Source: Medicaid.gov Enrollment Reports as of September, 2020
