Children who had no health insurance prior to joining HealthWave, Kansas's version of the Children's Health Insurance Program, generally were in worse health than children with health insurance. While most have a regular health care provider with whom they had recent contact, they also had unmet health and dental needs due to their previously uninsured status.

That information comes from a questionnaire mailed to families shortly after they enrolled in HealthWave, which began January 1 of this year and so far has enrolled 13,704 Kansas children. The results of the questionnaire are providing one of the first glimpses into the health needs of uninsured children in Kansas -- information that previously was unavailable.

HealthWave extends health insurance coverage to uninsured children whole families earn too much to qualify for Medicaid -- the state/federal health insurance program for the poor -- and too little to afford commercial health insurance. Most of the families in the program are the 'working poor' - employed in low-paying service-sector jobs that do not provide employer-based health insurance benefits.

It should be stressed that the data collected through the questionnaire do not attempt to measure the effects of HealthWave insurance. Rather, it pertains to the period before children gained health insurance through the program.

"The survey is giving us a good look at health problems facing children prior to obtaining health insurance," said SRS Secretary Janet Schalansky. "This will provide us with a baseline to show exactly how the HealthWave program improved the health of Kansas children."

Of the 12,432 questionnaires mailed, 6,681 or 53 percent of families returned the mailer. This tremendous response rate gives a glimpse into how appreciative families are for receiving health insurance coverage for low or no cost. As did notes some people added to their questionnaire:

"I am very pleased and glad to have this coverage for my daughters," said one response. Thank you."

"I just wanted to take a minute to thank everyone who works with HeathWave for providing an insurance plan for us working families that work to make it from paycheck to paycheck," was another response added to the questionnaire.

SRS contracted with the University of Kansas Health Services Research Group in the KU Department of Health Policy and Management to analyze questionnaire information.

Families were asked about children's health status, school sick days, unmet health care needs, use of health services, and tobacco smoke exposure. The survey was developed in cooperation with the Health Care Data Governing Board, which includes representatives from the Kansas Health Institute, the Kansas Department of Health & Environment, the University of Kansas Health Services Research Group, and the Kansas Foundation for Medical Care.

Survey respondents were asked whether their children had needed but not received health care during the past six months because of lack of insurance. Over half, 54 percent, reported needs in at least one area.

Dental care was the most frequent area children were lacking, at 35.8 percent, followed by medical care at 18.7 percent, vision care at 17.2 percent and prescription drugs at 14.2 percent. Just under half, 44.9 percent, had all needs met, but anecdotal comments indicated that parents often were paying health care bills in installments.

Survey respondents were asked how long it had been since their children visited a dentist. Over half, 53 percent, said it had been a year or more, 9 percent said more than three years, and 19.5 percent said their children had never seen a dentist. Current standards of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommend children receive their first oral screening at the age of one year and go to the dentist for a checkup every six months thereafter.

Concerning medical visits, during the six months before enrolling in HealthWave, children on average had 1.7 clinic or doctor visits. However, 29 percent of children had not seen a doctor at all, 14 percent were seen four times or more during this six months, suggesting a significant number of children experienced chronic or recurrent acute illness.

Nearly half of all uninsured children enrolling in HealthWave, 42.6 percent, may have exposure to environmental tobacco smoke through someone living in the home who smokes cigarettes. This figure is almost double the 22.8 percent statewide and 21.8 percent national average.

Copies of the survey are available upon request from the Health Services Research Group, Room 6050 Malott Hall, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS. 66045.

Page Last Updated: May 29, 2001