Public Insurance for Childless Adults

States can adopt many policies to help all low-income women move out of the ranks of the uninsured. Although federal law does not require coverage for adults without children or disabilities, states can create a public program for this population through their Medicaid or SCHIP program (via a waiver) or with state-only funding. The Report Card examines state's provision of publicly funded health insurance for otherwise uninsured, low-income adults, regardless of their parental status, age or disability.

  • Public Insurance for Childless Adults

      Strength Of Policy 2007 Change From 2004
    ALABAMA No/Harmful Policy Same
    ALASKA No/Harmful Policy Same
    ARIZONA Limited Policy Worse
    ARKANSAS No/Harmful Policy Same
    CALIFORNIA No/Harmful Policy Same
    COLORADO No/Harmful Policy Same
    CONNECTICUT No/Harmful Policy Same
    DELAWARE Meets Policy Same
    DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Meets Policy Same
    FLORIDA No/Harmful Policy Same
    GEORGIA No/Harmful Policy Same
    HAWAII Limited Policy Same
    IDAHO Limited Policy Better
    ILLINOIS Limited Policy Better
    INDIANA No/Harmful Policy Same
    IOWA No/Harmful Policy Same
    KANSAS No/Harmful Policy Same
    KENTUCKY No/Harmful Policy Same
    LOUISIANA No/Harmful Policy Same
    MAINE Limited Policy Worse
    MARYLAND No/Harmful Policy Same
    MASSACHUSETTS Meets Policy Same
    MICHIGAN Limited Policy Same
    MINNESOTA Meets Policy Better
    MISSISSIPPI No/Harmful Policy Same
    MISSOURI No/Harmful Policy Same
    MONTANA No/Harmful Policy Same
    NEBRASKA No/Harmful Policy Same
    NEVADA No/Harmful Policy Same
    NEW HAMPSHIRE No/Harmful Policy Same
    NEW JERSEY Limited Policy Same
    NEW MEXICO Limited Policy Better
    NEW YORK Meets Policy Same
    NORTH CAROLINA No/Harmful Policy Same
    NORTH DAKOTA No/Harmful Policy Same
    OHIO No/Harmful Policy Same
    OKLAHOMA No/Harmful Policy Same
    OREGON Limited Policy Worse
    PENNSYLVANIA Limited Policy Same
    RHODE ISLAND No/Harmful Policy Same
    SOUTH CAROLINA No/Harmful Policy Same
    SOUTH DAKOTA No/Harmful Policy Same
    TENNESSEE No/Harmful Policy Same
    TEXAS No/Harmful Policy Same
    UTAH Limited Policy Same
    VERMONT Meets Policy Same
    VIRGINIA No/Harmful Policy Same
    WASHINGTON Meets Policy Better
    WEST VIRGINIA No/Harmful Policy Same
    WISCONSIN No/Harmful Policy Same
    WYOMING No/Harmful Policy Same
     
    Meets PolicyMeets Policy 7  
    Limited PolicyLimited Policy 11  
    Weak PolicyWeak Policy 0  
    No/Harmful PolicyNo/Harmful Policy 33  
    Better Better 5  
    Worse Worse 3  
    Same Same 43  

    Does the state provide health care coverage for low-income adults not otherwise eligible for publicly funded health insurance?

    States receive a "meets policy" if they provide statewide comprehensive health coverage (with covered services similar to Medicaid) to otherwise uninsured adults whose incomes are at or above 100 percent of FPL. States receive a "limited policy" if they have programs with an income eligibility requirement below 100 percent of FPL, capped enrollment, or programs with a limited scope. States with minimal or no programs receive a "no policy."

    Data Source: Public Insurance for Childless Adults, 2006.

    Elizabeth M. Patchias and Judy Waxman, "Women and Health Coverage: A Framework for Moving Forward," April 2007, available at http://www.nwlc.org/pdf/NWLCHealthInsuranceIssueBrief2007.pdf; Jocelyn Guyer, Cindy Mann and Michael Odeh, "States Affected by Proposals to Restrict SCHIP Coverage Options" (Washington: Georgetown University Health Policy Institute, Center for Children and Families, April 2007); Thomas McCormack, "State Eligibility Rules of Public and Semi-Public Health Coverage Programs, State-by-State, Program-by-Program and Category-by-Category" (Washington: The Title II Community AIDS National Network, April 23, 2007). Federal poverty level here refers to the 2006 federal poverty guidelines.