Description of Indicator
This indicator examines the population eligible for Medical Assistance (MA) each year in July. It also covers the number of residents enrolled in Children’s Health Insurance (CHIP).
Why is it important?
Eligible residents receiving Medical Assistance or Medicaid payments have access to essential physical, mental, and substance abuse services. Parents who are having difficulty obtaining healthcare coverage due to cost or job loss can enroll their children in CHIP.
How is the region performing?
The percentages of Lackawanna County and Luzerne County populations eligible for Medical Assistance trended upward from July 2014 to July 2023, before dropping by July 2024. Both shares are consistently higher than statewide levels. Wayne County’s percentage of the MA eligible population has fluctuated since 2017.
Overall, CHIP enrollment declined in the three counties from January 2020 through 2023. Enrollment has decreased as eligibility returned to pre-COVID standards.