Trends in the Uninsured: Impact and Implications of the Current Economic Environment

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Trends in the Uninsured Impact and Implications
of the Current Economic Environment

• Len Nichols, Ph.D.
• Vice President
• Center for Studying Health System Change

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Uninsurance and Unemployment Rates
Note Data on uninsurance rates for 1999 and 2000
are not directly comparable to prior years
due to a change in the survey
instrument. SOURCE Uninsurance rates Employee
Benefits Research Institute analysis of the
1988-1999 March Supplements to the Current
Population Survey (1987-1998 data years)
and U.S. Census Bureau Current
Population Reports, 2000 (1999-2000 data years)
Unemployment rates U.S. Department of Labor,
Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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Own vs. Dependent Coverage
SOURCE Employee Benefits Research Institute
analysis of the 1988-2000 March Supplements to
the Current Population Survey.
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Who Is Likely to Be Uninsured?

• Hispanics 31
• Blacks 17
• Whites 10
• All Adults 16
• All Children 9

• Poor 32
• Near Poor 25
• 2-4poverty 12
• Above 4poverty 6
• South 17
• West 16
• NE 11
• Midwest 10

Source 2000-2001 Community Tracking Household
Survey
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Who Lost Coverage in the Last Recession?

• Whites
• High Income (above 4poverty)
• All regions but the Northeast

Source analysis of Current Population Survey,
1992 vs. 1990
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Some Facts About the 39 Million Uninsured
Percent of Uninsured With
Access To Percent Employment
Medicaid/ Income of uninsured Sponsored
SCHIP Poverty 30 12 36 1-2poverty 30 3
6 24 2-4poverty 27 46 9 4poverty
13 55 1 Overall 100 31 20 Sour
ce analysis of 1999 CPS data, non-elderly
population
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Implications for State and Local Policymakers
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Is There an End in Sight?