Children with health insurance have better health than children who do not have insurance, as they are likely to not receive timely care if they do not have health insurance. A child's health is also influenced by whether or not the parents have insurance. Maine expanded access to Medicaid for adults (called MaineCare in this state) in January 2019.  

What the data shows

The number of children with MaineCare in the years 2011-2021 was at its highest in 2012 with 144,198 children enrolled and then declined from 2012-2019 and has been increasing in both 2021 and 2022. For state fiscal year 2022, a total of 9,618 more children were enrolled than in 2019. and the percentage of children with MaineCare rose from 43.9% to 48.6%.  This was the highest rate since 2014. 

In terms of county rates, as of June 30, 2022, five counties Washington, Piscataquis, Somerset, Oxford and Aroostook Counties had rates above 60%.  By contrast, three counties had rates below 38%- Cumberland (35.6%), Sagadahoc (36.4%), and York (37.4%).

The number of children with MaineCare in the years 2011-2022 was at its highest in 2012 with 144,198 children enrolled and then declined from 2012-2019. In state fiscal year 2020, however, the numbers rose by 466 and the percentage rose from 43.9% to 44.8%.  Looking at state fiscal year 2021, ending on June 30, 2021, the numbers of children with MaineCare rose by 3,480 to 122,083, or 46.3% of Maine's children and the highest rate since 2018.

Children with health insurance have better health than children who do not have insurance, as they are likely to not receive timely care if they do not have health insurance. A child's health is also influenced by whether or not the parents have insurance. Maine expanded access to Medicaid for adults (called MaineCare in this state) in January 2019.  

What the data shows

The number of children with MaineCare in the years 2011-2021 was at its highest in 2012 with 144,198 children enrolled and then declined from 2012-2019 and has been increasing in both 2021 and 2022. For state fiscal year 2022, a total of 9,618 more children were enrolled than in 2019. and the percentage of children with MaineCare rose from 43.9% to 48.6%.  This was the highest rate since 2014. 

In terms of county rates, as of June 30, 2022, five counties Washington, Piscataquis, Somerset, Oxford and Aroostook Counties had rates above 60%.  By contrast, three counties had rates below 38%- Cumberland (35.6%), Sagadahoc (36.4%), and York (37.4%).

The number of children with MaineCare in the years 2011-2022 was at its highest in 2012 with 144,198 children enrolled and then declined from 2012-2019. In state fiscal year 2020, however, the numbers rose by 466 and the percentage rose from 43.9% to 44.8%.  Looking at state fiscal year 2021, ending on June 30, 2021, the numbers of children with MaineCare rose by 3,480 to 122,083, or 46.3% of Maine's children and the highest rate since 2018.