| Crafting effective
solutions to help reduce the number of uninsured Americans
requires understanding the enormous diversity within the ranks
of the uninsured. Some of the variables include length of
time without insurance, income, and employment circumstances.
In addition, some communities and groups are more likely to
be uninsured. Understanding the make-up of the uninsured is
essential to creating effective means for gaining coverage.
How Many Americans Are Uninsured?
This sounds like a simple question; however,
it isn’t. The Census Bureau reports that 45 million
– or 15.6% of Americans – were uninsured in 2003.
What that really tells us is the number of people who were
uninsured at any given point in time during 2003, not how
many Americans were uninsured for the entire year. They could
have been without coverage for any period of time –
from two days to two months to the full year.
Being able to discern how many Americans
are “chronically” uninsured versus how many are
“transitionally” uninsured for 1-2 months between
jobs is important. Policy makers must know the duration of
uninsurance in order to (1) assess the magnitude of the uninsured
problem, (2) design effective strategies to address the problem,
and (3) understand the resources needed to make a difference.
View enlarged graph
RESOURCE:
Counting
the Uninsured: Why Congress Should Look Beyond the Census
Figures
By Derek Hunter
How Many Americans Are Without Coverage for
What Periods of Time?
A previous study by the Congressional Budget
Office published in 2003 tells us that only about 30% of nonelderly
Americans who become uninsured in any given year remain so
for more than 12 months, while nearly half of those who are
uninsured regain coverage within four months.
Estimated Number of Nonelderly People Without Health Insurance
in 1998 (in millions)
Source: Congressional Budget Office
Note: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which
sponsors the NHIS, reports only the point-in-time estimate.
Bottom Line: Clearly, Congress should prioritize its efforts to help those who lack coverage for longer periods of time. The good news is that the target population is substantially less than 45 million, meaning that addressing it will require fewer federal resources.
Which Americans Are Likely to Be Uninsured?
Working
Americans
Small Businesses
Self-Employed
Minorities
Young People
High Risk Individuals
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