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One in five Hispanic children in Nevada are uninsured

Photo courtesy of Federal Emergency Management Agency.

In Nevada, 20 percent of Hispanic children don't have health insurance, compared to 15 percent of Nevada kids overall, and a new report says the state could be doing more to reach out to Hispanic families. 

The state has made some progress, but one in five Hispanic children in Nevada still does not have health insurance. That's according to a report released jointly by the National Council of La Raza and the Georgetown Center for Children and Families. The report shows 20 percent, or 53-thousand Hispanic children are uninsured statewide, although that's an improvement of several thousand in recent years. Lisa Mariani with Children's Advocacy Alliance says part of the challenge is that outreach to these families can be difficult.
     
"So, we're hopeful that, through expanded awareness and education, that we can reach more families, so that we can have more people enrolled in CHIP [Children's Health Insurance Program] in the State of Nevada."

Mariani says more kids would likely be insured through the Children's Health Insurance Program or "CHIP" and other programs if the state would do more in-person outreach. She adds that Nevada's expansion of Medicaid, linked to the Affordable Care Act, should also help get more kids insured.

Esther Ciammachilli is a former part-time broadcaster at KUNR Public Radio.
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