Daily Digit: Number of uninsured children has risen for the first time in nearly a decade

Daily Digit is the story behind the numbers that make our world work. Today we’re looking at the number of uninsured children in the United States. According to a new study, as of 2017, 3.9 million children in the U.S. are uninsured. This is an increase of 276,000 from 2016 and the first time this number has risen in nearly a decade. Nationwide, an average of 5% of children are uninsured, but some states have significantly higher rates. The study notes the rising rate is largely due to federal actions. And unless there’s a serious effort to get back on track, the numbers are likely to increase in 2018.