Medicaid Enrollment and Health Services Access by Latino Children in Inner-City Los Angeles

Using data on insurance, access, and utilization from a household survey of 817 families with young Latino children, the authors found that while most (84%) young Latino children in inner-city Los Angeles were eligible for Medicaid, a substantial proportion (39%) have episodic or no coverage. Insurance status and provider type were more consistently associated with access than were residency and language preference. In the aftermath of California's Proposition 187 and federal welfare reform, insurance status and access are likely to worsen for these young children.