Unfortunately, too many children are denied these resources, primarily because they don’t have health insurance that covers blood lead testing, eye exams or glasses, trips to the dentist, and mental health therapy. In southeastern PA, tens of thousands of children don’t have access to care, even though many of them are eligible for public coverage.

It’s well-documented that children with health insurance are healthier because their parents can take them to the doctor before a minor cold, sore tooth, or injury becomes severe, which usually leads to an emergency room visit. Vision problems in children are often left uncorrected because parents can’t afford the exams and glasses.

The need for mental and emotional health (aka “behavioral health”) services has skyrocketed since COVID-induced stress and isolation impacted children. In PA, the calls to a mental health hotline doubled in just a year, with dramatic increases in Philadelphia and some of the surrounding counties.