A new report released by Philadelphia’s Public Citizens for Children and Youth highlights barriers to health care for 24,000 undocumented children in Pennsylvania.

Current state law bans undocumented children from enrolling in the state’s Children’s Health Insurance Program.

The report titled “Fulfilling Pennsylvania’s Promise to Cover All Kids” notes an estimated 24,000 undocumented children across the state, including approximately 2,908 from Philadelphia, cannot access or afford health coverage, leaving their families with few options when their children are sick or injured.

PCCY interviewed 53 parents whose children are struggling because they cannot get the health care services they need because they are undocumented.

The report indicates that 100 percent of parents stated that they did not seek care for their child because they could not afford it; 91 percent of children received delayed care or went without care for a serious medical need requiring a specialist; 67 percent of parents reported their child was harmed by delaying or forgoing care and 43 percent of undocumented children received no dental care in the last year. According to report findings, 42 percent of parents said delaying or forgoing care caused absences, lower grades and behavioral problems in school and 28 percent of children required emergency room care because a neglected health problem worsened.

“Every parent we spoke to had at least one story of hardship that could be easily remedied if they had health insurance,” said Colleen McCauley, health policy director for PCCY. “This report provides clear evidence that our state needs to amend PCCY eligibility guidelines to include all children, including those who are undocumented.”

According to PCCY, enrolling children in CHIP is cheaper than paying hospitals for undocumented care. For fiscal year 2014, the cost of coverage for one child in CHIP is $2,568 versus an average of $4,600 that a leading pediatric hospital paid largely paid for with public dollars.

“Putting off routine care or treatment for minor ailments can lead to big problems down the road,” Dr. Katherine Yun, pediatrician at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia said. “Too often we see children with illnesses that could have been prevented but their families avoid seeking treatment because they do not have health insurance.”

PCCY said there is precedent for states to cover kids regardless of their immigration status. Five states, including California, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, Washington and the District of Columbia have adopted reforms to make undocumented children eligible for public health insurance.

Alison Fogarty, deputy press secretary, Pennsylvania Insurance Department said Gov. Tom Wolf is committed to ensuring Pennsylvania’s children have access to quality health care and insurance.

“The law governing the federal CHIP program does not permit undocumented children to be enrolled in CHIP, and Pennsylvania’s law requires that enrollees meet citizenship and immigration requirements of the federal law,” Fogarty said.

The Philadelphia Tribune – June 23, 2015 – Read article online