The number of uninsured New Jersey children increased by 37% from 2000 to 2005, compared with a 9% decrease nationwide over the same period, an indication that the state should expand the FamilyCare program, according to a report released on Wednesday by New Jersey Policy Perspective, the AP/Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

From 2000 to 2004, the report found that the number of uninsured black children in the state increased by 67% and that the number of uninsured Hispanic children increased by 37%. The number of uninsured white children in the state decreased by 1% from 2000 to 2004, the report found. In addition, the report found that the number of uninsured middle-income children in the state increased by 17%. The report also found that New Jersey "fared poorly compared with other states in serving the lowest-income children, the AP/Inquirer reports.

FamilyCare provides health insurance to 530,000 children and 160,000 parents in the state. About 1.4 million New Jersey residents including 250,000 children lack health insurance. The state spends about $1 billion annually on FamilyCare and payments to hospitals for treating uninsured patients.

Recommendations
The report made a number of recommendations, including:An expansion of FamilyCare to all children in the state;

Improvements in efforts to enroll eligible minority children and children in the state with the lowest incomes in FamilyCare;

An expansion of FamilyCare to allow the enrollment of more parents;

A requirement that New Jersey companies with employees and dependents enrolled in FamilyCare contribute to a state fund (Hester, AP/Philadelphia Inquirer, 5/24);

The elimination of FamilyCare copayments and premiums for children in the state with the lowest incomes; and

Approval of a proposal by NJPP to enroll an additional 67,000 children in the state in FamilyCare by 2009 (Livio, Newark Star-Ledger, 5/24).Jon Shure, president of NJPP, said, "New Jersey is at a critical point with health insurance for children. If we have the will, we can reach those who need help the most and make the dream of guaranteed health coverage for all children a reality."

Suzanne Esterman, a spokesperson for the state Department of Human Services, said, "We have an unwavering commitment to enrolling as many children as possible into the program" (AP/Philadelphia Inquirer, 5/24).

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