Improving Public Coverage for Children in New Jersey: Lessons from Covering Kids and Families in New Jersey

Health insurance coverage in New Jersey is threatened on all sides: private insurance coverage is eroding; the number of uninsured individuals is growing; and state budget pressure, combined with federal policy pressure, could lead to public insurance coverage cutbacks. This issue brief presents a historical review of the 168's Covering Kids & Families program in the state. The review shows that advocates for insurance coverage, working in concert with state officials, can positively impact public insurance policy and procedures, and can sustain this work even after funding ends.