One-in-four without health insurance in PA

Each year, the U.S. Census Bureau releases an updated version of its Current Population Survey (CPS).  It includes a report on the number of people who had no health insurance at all during the previous calendar year.

For example, this past August, the CPS report indicated that 1,162,000 Pennsylvanians under the age of 65 (11 percent) had no health insurance during 2007.

But life happens outside the boundaries of the calendar.  And the CPS reports, by focusing on those who lacked coverage for an entire calendar year, understate the magnitude of the problem.

 A new report from Families USA,  “Americans at Risk”, examines how many lacked health insurance for some period of time during 2007 and 2008. As it turns out, the number is a lot higher than is often reported.

• 2,845,000 Pennsylvanians under the age of 65 went without health insurance for all or part of the 2-year period.  That’s 27 percent of that age group, or more than one-in-four.
• 1,970,000 Pennsylvanians under the age of 65 went without insurance for at least six months during that 2-year period.  That’s 19 percent, or nearly one-in five.

Certain Pennsylvania groups were particularly affected by a lack of coverage: 

• 48 percent of individuals in families with incomes below 200 percent of the federal poverty level;
• 46 percent of Hispanics; and
• 38 percent of African Americans.

These are pre-recession data; the number lacking coverage now is even greater. 

It is more important than ever that our Congress take up comprehensive health reform during 2009 and that our own General Assembly in Harrisburg act promptly to expand adultBasic, provide rate protection for small employers, extend COBRA to employees of small businesses, and fund community health center services.