We use event study methodology to estimate the effects of job loss on the health insurance coverage of children and parents and identify the mitigating role of pub- lic insurance (Medicaid/CHIP). We document striking differences in family insurance coverage patterns after job loss across three income groups, with the largest loss of private health insurance occurring in middle class families. While this leads to large gaps in insurance coverage for middle-class parents, we find that access to public health insurance mitigates the effects on children’s coverage through two channels: reduced exposure before job loss and increased take up afterwards.