This presentation uses data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) to provide national estimates of the health insurance status of the civilian noninstitutionalized U.S. population for 1996 through 2000, including the size and characteristics of the population with private health insurance, with public insurance, and without any health insurance coverage. For example, in 1999, 84.2 percent of all Americans were covered by private or public health insurance, leaving 15.8 percent (this compares to 17.0 percent in 1996) of the population, some 42.8 million (44.8 million in 1996) persons, uninsured. Among the non-elderly population (age less than 65), 82.1 percent of Americans had either private or public coverage and 17.9 percent (19.2 percent in 1996) of the population (42.6 million persons) lacked health insurance coverage. Among the elderly population there was a significant drop in private health insurance coverage (63.3 percent vs. 55.8 percent) and a significant increase in public health insurance coverage only (35.9 percent vs. 48.6 percent) when comparing 1997 to 1999 estimates. The probability that an individual would be uninsured in any given year (1996 through 2000) was especially high for young adults aged 19-24 and members of racial and ethnic minorities (especially Hispanic males). Public health insurance continues to play an important role in ensuring that children, black Americans, and Hispanic Americans obtain health care coverage.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session/poster the participant will be able to: 1. Identify those populations at greatest risk for being uninsured. 2. Articulate populations more likely to obtain health insurance through public sources vs. private sources. 3. Discuss trends in health insurance coverage from 1996 to 2000 with respect to sources of and degree of health insurance coverage
Keywords: Health Insurance,
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
Disclosure not received
Relationship: Not Received.