Maintaining Health Coverage and Securing the Medicaid Safety Net in a Sluggish Economy

The current economy is a key concern as federal and state leaders worry about the expected rise in unemployment and the related loss of employer health coverage. Policymakers are considering several options to ensure that we do not experience a health coverage crisis as we deal with the impact of the September 11th tragedy and ongoing concerns. In addition, states that were already preparing for budget problems are reporting even worse scenarios for their fiscal outlook.
The Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured has five new publications that can assist you as you grapple with the impact of recent events on our health care system.

• Testimony: Health Insurance for Unemployed Workers

• Issue Paper: Medicaid and State Budgets: An October 2001 Update
• Background Paper: Medicaid Budgets Under Stress: Survey Findings for State Fiscal Year 2000, 2001, and 2002
• Fact Sheet: COBRA Coverage for Low-Income Unemployed Workers
• Report: Covering Parents through Medicaid and SCHIP: Potential Benefits to Low-Income Parents and Children