The mainstream coverage conversation is dominated by talk of adults. As it is adults who make purchasing decisions, contribute to the economy, and vote, they are an important group, but children are equally significant and often looked over. In September 2015, funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), a social health care program that expands on Medicaid for children of low-income families, will expire. And since the Affordable Care Act has altered the coverage landscape, it can be helpful to examine how the coverage options for families of CHIP or Medicaid eligible children have changed. In honor of John Venn’s recent 180^th birthday, below is a Venn diagram demonstrating the overlaps in federal program eligibility for kids and their parents. Of the 41.9 million children eligible for CHIP or Medicaid, nearly 24 million have parents who are not eligible for government assistance, either because they are covered through their employer or live in states that have not expanded Medicaid.[1] Only 14.4 million have parents that are also eligible for Medicaid benefits. The remaining 3.5 million have parents who are eligible for subsidies through the Health Insurance Marketplace, but those children are not eligible for subsidies themselves as they already qualify for other federal coverage.

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[1] The data for the Venn diagram was calculated using the 2010-2012 American Community Survey. The eligibility figures are based on income, age, health insurance status, and state of residence, but do not include all demonstration or county-specific programs.