Indicator: 13 - Children and Youth With Health Insurance

Why This Is Important

1997 Maine Department of Human Services report based on a survey of Maine families with uninsured children confirmed that children without health insurance are less likely to have a regular health care provider; less likely to have a regular dentist, or to have had a dental visit in the last year; and more likely to be in fair or poor health than low-income, privately-insured children.

Where We Stand

In 2001, most (94%) of Maine’s children under 18 years old had health insurance. Coverage in the last three years displays definite improvement since 1995, when only 84% of Maine’s children had health insurance. In comparison, 88.3% of persons under 18 had health insurance nationwide in 2001.

Data Sources and Context

ata comes from the U.S. Census Bureau, March Current Population Survey Supplement (now called the Annual Demographic Survey). The numbers in the chart are estimates based on interviews with a sample of Maine households. Data can be found on-line at:

http://ferret.bls.census. gov/macro/032002/health/h05_000.htm.