(Washington, D.C., Friday, October 9, 2020) – The number of uninsured children in the United States increased by about 726,000 children between 2016 and 2019 bringing the total to over four million uninsured children in the nation. The number of uninsured children and the child uninsured rate are now at the highest levels since 2014, when the ACA’s major coverage expansions first took effect.

The number of uninsured children increased every year during the Trump Administration. The largest increase occurred between 2018 and 2019 when, despite a continued strong economy, the number of children without health insurance increased by 320,000. This nearly 20% increase in the number of uninsured children was the largest annual jump in more than a decade.

The number of uninsured children is likely considerably higher in 2020, as families have lost their jobs and employer-sponsored insurance, though it is impossible to know yet by precisely how much.

The Georgetown University Center for Children and Families (CCF) is an independent, nonpartisan policy and research center founded in 2005 with a mission to support access to high-quality, comprehensive and affordable health coverage for all of America’s children and families.

As part of the McCourt School of Public Policy, Georgetown CCF provides research, develops strategies, and offers solutions to improve the health of America’s children and families, particularly those with low and moderate incomes. In particular, CCF examines policy development and implementation efforts related to Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and the Affordable Care Act.