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A U.S. Population–Based Study

Background. In a population-based study of Medicaid-eligible children, the authors described and compared sociodemographic attributes, medical and dental health care utilization, and health status between Medicaid-insured and uninsured Medicaid-eligible children.

Methods. The authors analyzed data from 2,491 poor Medicaid-eligible children 2 to 16 years of age who participated in the 1999–2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. They quantified the association of medical and dental health care utilization, health status and treatment needs with Medicaid insurance status by using multivariable logistic regression modeling, taking into account the complex survey design and sample weights.

Results. Approximately 40 percent of Medicaid-eligible children were uninsured. Medicaid-insured children were more likely to have an annual physician visit but no more or less likely to have good general or oral health, asthma or dental caries, or treatment needs than were uninsured Medicaid-eligible children. Medicaid-insured older children (9–16 years old) were more likely to have an annual dentist visit than were uninsured Medicaid-eligible older children.

Conclusions. Children with Medicaid coverage were more likely to use health care services but no more or less likely to have good general health, good oral health, asthma treatment needs or dental treatment needs.

Practice Implications. To improve health care use, more poor children need to be enrolled in Medicaid.

Key Words: Access to care; asthma; caries; dental care utilization; health status; Medicaid; National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Abbreviations: FPG: Federal poverty guideline • NHANES: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey • OR_Asthma: Odds ratio of asthma • OR_AsthmaNeed: Odds ratio of unmet asthma treatment need • OR_Caries: Odds ratio of dental caries experience • OR_DDSvisit: Odds ratio of annual dentist visit • OR_DentalNeed: Odds ratio of unmet dental treatment need • OR_GoodGH: Odds ratio of good general health • OR_GoodOH: Odds ratio of good oral health • OR_Insured: Odds ratio of being Medicaid insured • OR_MDvisit: Odds ratio of annual physician visit • SCHIP: State Children’s Health Insurance Program.