This fact sheet, last updated in March 2001, discusses health insurance status of low-income children and reviews current programs to provide coverage to this population.

This report, a companion piece to publication #2246, presents detailed case studies of the managed care programs that enroll dual eligibles in three states: Georgia, Minnesota and Pennsylvania.

• Report

National ADAP Monitoring Project Report

This report, the fifth in an annual series, provides an overview of the status of state-administered AIDS Drug Assistance Programs (ADAPs) and documents how these programs are responding to the changing fiscal, clinical and epidemiological dynamics of HIV/AIDS. ADAPs, authorized under Title II of the Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency (CARE) Act, provide HIV/AIDS-related prescription drugs to uninsured and underinsured individuals living with HIV/AIDS in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Virgin Islands. The report is commissioned by the Foundation and conducted by the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors (NASTAD) and the AIDS Treatment Data Network (ATDN)

• Report

This issue paper analyzes the role of immigrants in the growth of the number uninsured people in America. Results show that recent immigrants are not the reason for the growth in the number of the uninsured from 1994 to 1998 despite their high rates of uninsurance.

• Issue Paper

• Topline/Survey
• Summary

This report summarizes the key findings from the largest ever national survey of South African teenagers on their attitudes towards issues such as sex, gender, and substance abuse, as well as their aspirations for the future. This nationally representative random sample of 2,000 South Africans aged 12-17 years shows that young South Africans are overwhelmingly optimistic about the future of South Africa and filled with the usual aspirations and ambitions of youth. However, most young South Africans fear they might not live to realize their dreams and that South Africa’s future prospects may be overwhelmed by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The personal risk of HIV/AIDS, as well as it’s impact on friends, families and the country s future are a major preoccupation for young people.

More than 40% of South Africans are under 15 years of age. These young South Africans are at great risk of HIV infection. At the current rate of infection more than 50% of South Africans under 15 today could die of AIDS-related causes in the next five to ten years. On the one hand, most young South Africans say they are happy with their lives, but at the same time they are also struggling with very serious issues. The AIDS epidemic is a particular source of fear and concern. While almost all young people say they accept responsibility for protecting themselves from the virus, many still do not know important facts about the disease and how it is prevented or treated. Moreover, many sexually active teens are making unsafe choices and hold attitudes that put them at risk for HIV infection.

While young South Africans generally spend large parts of their time doing the things young people do everywhere watching television, listening to the radio or hanging out with friends poverty is a major factor in the lives of a large proportion of young South Africans. About one third of young South Africans are living in households with less than R1,000 ($130) income per month. Approximately one third of black respondents reported going hungry and many are living in homes that are overcrowded and lack basic amenities such as electricity and sewerage. Most respondents said that if they had money they would spend it on food.

Although the risk of HIV/AIDS looms large in the lives of young South Africans, 65% indicate that they are worried about their personal safety. Crime is the greatest concern (72%), but 62% of respondents cited the fear of sexual or physical abuse as a concern. Many young South Africans are sexually active. About one third of boys and girls aged 12-17 have had sexual intercourse. One in five (18%) of this group reported having their first sexual experience at the age of 12 or younger. Most teenagers say they first learned about sex from their friends and peer pressure and coercion play a significant role in adolescent sexual behaviour. Sex is also often used as a commodity in exchange for money or other forms of payment. Twenty-eight percent of young South Africans indicate they know people their age who have sex for money, and 16% of sexually experienced girls interviewed said they themselves have had sex for money, drinks, food or other gifts.

Although nearly three quarters of respondents say they are positive about the future of South Africa, white and Indian youth in particular are less positive, and 39% of all young South Africans indicate that they will probably leave South Africa someday. Although 8 in 10 respondents say they feel happy mixing with people of all races, 71% said they only have friends of their own race. But the vast majority believe they should participate in determining the country s future with 88% of respondents saying they think it important to vote in an election.

• Full Report (large file- please allow a few minutes for download)

Talking with Kids About Tough Issues has teamed up with Nickelodeon in a national initiative launching March 8th, 2001 to support parent-child communication about “tough issues”-sex, violence, drugs and respect. The partnership will kick off with the release of data from a new survey of kids age 8-15 and their parents.

Talking with Kids and Nickelodeon have developed new multimedia resources to help parents and kids talk together about issues like puberty and sex, violence, alcohol and drugs, and respect. At everythingnick.com, parents can get age-appropriate guidance and tips for raising topics with their kids. At nick.com/your_world, kids can take a “Talk Challenge” and share experiences. Parents can also call 1 800 CHILD 44 to receive a free guide developed exclusively for the partnership by parenting expert and best-selling author Dominic Cappello. Parents and kids can find out about these resources through public service advertisements (PSAs) airing on Nickelodeon and other Viacom properties, including VH-1, TNN, CMT, Nick at Nite, and Noggin.

Talking with Kids About Tough Issues campaign website

• Presentation Slides

The Kaiser Commission co-sponsored a policy briefing on the basics of the Medicaid program, including eligiblity, financing, and benefits. Links to the presentation slides, fact sheets, and a select legislative history of this coverage program for low-income and disabled individuals are available below.

• Medicaid 101 Presentation Slides
• Medicaid Legislative History
• The Medicaid Program at a Glance
• Medicaid Enrollment and Spending Trends
• Medicaid and Managed Care
• Medicaid and Prescription Drugs
• Webcast of Policy Briefing

Health Insurance Coverage in America: 1999 Data Update

This chart book provides the latest information on health insurance coverage, with special attention to the uninsured. It includes trends and major shifts in coverage and a profile of the uninsured population.

• Chartbook
• Link to other Health Insurance Coverage in America chartbooks.