Urban Institute Study Highlights Health Coverage Problems for Low-Income Hispanics, Children in Colorado

An Urban Institute study released Sept. 5 found that low-income Hispanics in Colorado proved "twice as likely" as the state's African Americans and whites to have not visited a doctor for a year or more, although race and ethnicity "don't make much difference" in whether individuals have health coverage, the Denver Post reports. In the report, part of the Urban Institute's Assessing the New Federalism project, researchers monitored public health programs in 13 states between 1997 and 1999. According to Alan Weil of the Urban Institute, Colorado represents "one of the [nation's] most restrictive states" in providing Medicaid coverage. The study also found that about 480,000 Colorado residents lack health coverage, and about 24% of the state's low-income residents have public health insurance. In addition, the report found that many low-income parents "incorrectly think only families on welfare are eligible" for Child Health Plan Plus, the state's CHIP program, and do not attempt to enroll their children. Weil added that CHP+ "got off to a slow start," which he attributed to the program's "initial" high premiums. Last August, Colorado Gov. Bill Owens (R) reduced CHP+ premiums from a maximum of $360 per year for a family of four to a maximum of $35; subsequently, CHP+ enrollment has risen from about one-third to about one-half of the estimated 69,000 eligible children (Auge, Denver Post, 9/6). For further information on state health policy in Colorado, visit State Health Facts Online.