We Cannot Stop Until Every Child Has Health Insurance
All Arkansans want our children to grow up healthy, safe, and supported. For more than two decades, Arkansas has worked to expand access to health coverage as a foundation for child well-being. ARKids First has helped hundreds of thousands of families access the care they need, making it one of the most impactful children’s health initiatives in our state’s history. Our commitment to covering kids once made Arkansas a national leader in children’s health insurance, grounded in the shared understanding that access to care is essential for children to learn, grow, and thrive.
Health insurance gives children access to routine checkups, developmental screenings, vaccines, and treatment when they are sick or injured. These early supports lead to better outcomes not just in health, but also in education and longterm stability. Coverage helps ensure families can get timely care, avoid medical debt, and stay connected to their health providers. Health coverage is a lifelong investment in the children of Arkansas.
But the progress we have made is slipping. The number of uninsured children in Arkansas has climbed to the highest level in a decade, and too many eligible children are losing coverage due to preventable gaps or paperwork barriers. As we face rising maternal mortality rates, growing mental health needs, and widespread disenrollments from public programs, keeping families insured is more important than ever. Our challenge now is to build on the progress of the past by protecting coverage and making it easier for children and their families to stay enrolled.
This latest Finish Line report finds:
- Arkansas’s child uninsured rate is rising
- Eligible children are still losing coverage
- Coverage gaps are worst for families with lower incomes
- Hispanic and immigrant children face some of the highest barriers
- Adult coverage losses threaten family health
- Uninsurance among women of childbearing age remains a major health risk
Download the report to learn more.