American Academy of Pediatrics Policy Statement: Investing in Children’s Health Insurance Reaps Long-term Rewards

In an updated policy statement, the American Academy of Pediatrics describes the national landscape of health care benefits offered to children, their lack of uniformity and recommendations on ensuring adequate health care insurance coverage for all children and youth. The statement, “Scope of Health Care Benefits for Neonates, Infants, Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults Through Age 26,” published in the September 2022 Pediatrics (published online Aug. 29) outlines services that should be covered by health care insurance including: preventive care; physician and other health care provider services; facility-based care; therapeutic and ancillary services; durable medical equipment; and laboratory, diagnostic, assessment, and testing services. All children -- regardless of where they live, their family income, individual health care needs or immigration and citizenship status -- should have timely, affordable access to care, according to the AAP. The policy statement, written by the AAP Committee on Child Health Financing, calls for a comprehensive federal standard that allows medical professionals flexibility in prescribing health services appropriate to the evolving developmental status of that child. The AAP encourages state and federal lawmakers to consider the return on investing in children’s health, citing research that shows that having access to health care through affordable insurance makes children more likely to complete college and leads to higher earnings and improved adult health.

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The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 67,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.