The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services has released results from the recent Ohio Family Health Survey. The survey shows the percentage of children in Ohio who lack health care coverage fell from 9.8 percent in 1998, when the last survey was conducted, to 5.4 percent in 2004.

"Ohio's expansion of Medicaid coverage for children has played a significant role in the 45 percent reduction in the rate of children who are uninsured in Ohio," Barbara Edwards, director, ODJFS Office of Ohio Health Plans said. "This is a huge success story for Ohio Medicaid and all of the stakeholders who worked in partnership with us to enroll as many eligible children as possible."

The Ohio Family Health Survey found that a majority of Ohioans rely on employment-based insurance for health services access. About 1.8 million, or 64 percent, of Ohio children and 5.3 million adults, or 63 percent, received coverage through a present or former employer or through a family member with job-based coverage. Lack of insurance is higher among those with lower incomes, less education, younger age groups, minorities, and those living in Appalachian counties.

The results show those who remain uninsured in Ohio are primarily adults. The percentage of uninsured adults increased from 11.5 percent in 1998 to 12.5 percent in 2004. A total of slightly more than 1.2 million Ohioans lack health insurance. Many who are uninsured cannot be covered by Medicaid because eligibility is limited to parents, children, the aged, and the disabled.

Over the course of State Fiscal Year 2004, Ohio Medicaid covered over 2 million Ohioans, including nearly 1.1 million low-income or disabled children. An estimated 70 percent of children who are eligible for Medicaid have been enrolled.

The survey, a substantial expansion of the original survey conducted in 1998 by the Ohio Department of Health, was designed to provide data about health care in Ohio, overall health status and the type of health care received. Conducted from October 2003 through July 2004, the survey obtained responses from nearly 40,000 adults.

A copy of the report is available online at http://jfs.ohio.gov/ohp/reports/FamHlthSurv.stm .

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For more information contact ODJFS Communications, 614-466-6650.