The report kicks off the foundation's annual Cover the Uninsured Back-to-School Campaign, a nationwide effort to enroll eligible children in public health-coverage programs during the back-to-school season. Findings include:

• 31 percent of all uninsured kids in America did not visit a doctor's office last year, compared to just 9 percent of children with insurance.

• 77 percent of insured children received a "well child" checkup in the past year, compared to 45 percent of those without insurance.

• 10 percent of children in Utah and nationwide with chronic health needs who are enrolled in public programs postpone or skip needed care, compared to 41 percent of uninsured kids who have chronic health needs.

• 7 percent of children enrolled in CHIP or Medicaid in Utah do not have a personal physician, compared to about 21 percent of uninsured kids.

Despite the success of the two public programs across the country, 9 million children nationwide remain uninsured, according to the latest U.S. Census Bureau data. That's more than the total number of kids enrolled in the first and second grades in U.S. public schools.

In Utah, about 70,000 children don't have insurance. Most come from families in which at least one parent works full-time.

Utah lawmakers this past session ensured enough funds that CHIP can remove an enrollment cap that has prevented eligible families from enrolling. That combined with families believing they probably earn too much to enroll has kept the 70,000 or so Utah children who qualify for the plan from signing up. About 35,000 are currently enrolled.

The report meshes with an effort currently under way by CHIP administrators and child advocates to promote the plan statewide.

To find out more about CHIP and qualifications for enrollment, call 877-KIDSNOW or see www.utahchip.org.

To view the foundation report, log on to www.rwjf.org.

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E-mail: jthalman@desnews.com