How Children Get Health Coverage

The majority of children - an estimated 59.5 percent - had health coverage through their parent's employer in 2007. But that share  declined from 65.9 percent in 2000 as a result of two trends.  The percentage of small employers offering coverage has declined, and employees are expected to pay more for premiums and out-of-pocket expenses than in the past.

Together, Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) covered more than one in four children, or 28 percent in 2007, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.