Primary Listings
Average Cost of Hospital Stay, 2006 (Uninsured and All Stays)
Statistical Brief #67 shows average price for an uninsured hospital stay was $19,400 in 2006, with an estimated average cost of $6800 (or 65% less). All stays incl. Medicare and private pay, averaged $24,000 in charges and $8400 in cost. Since 1997, Medicare hospitalizations rose 17%, Medicaid numbers were up 36% and the uninsured stays rose 34%. Stays for people with private insurance did not rise. Childbirth was the number one reason for hospitalization of uninsured (11.2% of stays), followed by chest pain, mood disorders and skin infections (a potentially avoidable admission). Published by AHRQ with HCUP data, Feb. 2009
Access and the Uninsured (Families USA)
Health Action 2009 Tool Kit from Families USA
Comparing Federal Gov't Surveys That Count Uninsured People in America (pdf)
Six page brief by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, August 2006. Addresses the debate about exactly how many Americans are uninsured
Covering Health Issues - for journalists (pdf)
Covering Health Issues is a large document from the nonprofit Alliance for Health Reform that provides baseline information on a wide variety of healthcare issues, including long term care, mental health. Written with reporters and journalists in mind; 220 pages; 2011, with portions updated 2012
Employer-sponsored Health Insurance erodes, Sept. 2010 (EPI)
The Economic Policy Institute (EPI), a nonprofit think tank based in Washington DC, briefing paper shows that employer-provided health insurance coverage has declined for seventh consecutive year. Reports trends from 2000 to 2009 and high-level analysis of who receives employer-sponsored insurance (less than 59% of adults under age 65), by state. See prior year reports for coverage by industry sector, size of firm, worker age, education, wage tier, etc. About 6.3% of under-65 population purchases its own insurance. Sept. 2010
Employment and Health Insurance Coverage, 2010
Detailed look at sources of health insurance and characteristics of the Uninsured, for people under age 65, based on the March 2011 Current Population Survey (CPS). About 69% of workers age 18-64 (60% of adults ages 18-64) had employment-based insurance. More than one-third of workers in private sector companies with fewer than 10 employees, were uninsured. The rate of workers in companies of 10 to 49 employees, and self-employed people without health insurance was 28%. Self-employed workers had the highest rate of purchasing health insurance themselves (21.7%), compared to 5% of those in firms of 1000 or more workers. Public sector workers had the best rate of employment-based coverage (85%), with 6% purchasing their own insurance. EBRI Issue Brief No. 362, published September 2011
Health Insurance Coverage Estimates (June 2011)
CDC estimates from the National Health Interview Survey, 2010, show 16.0% of people in US were uninsured at the time of the interview (48.6 million people). Over 60 million had been uninsured for at least part of the year prior to the interview, higher than the prior year. Over 25.3% of people under age 65 with private insurance were enrolled in a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP). PDF version is easier to read (28 pages)
Health Insurance Coverage in US, 2010 (Sept. 2011)
US Census Bureau report (at census.gov) shows 49.9 million people without health insurance in 2010 (vs. 49 million in 2009). The percentage of people without insurance coverage was steady at 16.3%. Almost 39 million (80%) of the uninsured are US citizens. About 95 million are covered by government health insurance, up by 2 million. Report published September 2011
Health Insurance Status of Full-time Workers (MEPS)
Statistical Brief #317 shows about 86% of full-time workers had private health insurance in 2008. However, 44% of full-time workers at poor/ near poor wages (up to 125% of poverty level) were uninsured. For those with less than a high school education, 40% were uninsured; for full-time self-employed, 32% were uninsured. Leisure/hospitality industry workers had a 20% uninsured rate. MEPS data, 2008, published March 2011
Long-Term Uninsured, People under Age 65 (Aug. 2009 pdf)
Using MEPS data, the largest segments of US population without health insurance for 4 years (2004-2007) include Hispanics (16.4% of the under-65 population, but 39.4% of the 4-year uninsured); the Poor Income group (14.1% of population, but 26.2% of long-term uninsured); those in Fair/Poor Health (10.1% compared to those in Excellent Health at 5.3%) and 25-29 year olds (13% rate). AHRQ Statistical Brief #258
Previously Uninsured Use More Healthcare - NEJM, 2007
Link to Pubmed abstract in July 12, 2007 New England Journal of Medicine on study of 5158 adults who didn't have insurance prior to enrolling in Medicare. Once acquiring coverage, those with diabetes, hypertension, heart disease or stroke had 51% higher medical expenditures than those who were previously insured. People without those conditions did not show significant increases. Article by McWilliams, Meara et al.
State Comparisons: Health Insurance Coverage of Nonelderly 0-64, by state (2008-2009)
Have you ever wondered where the 50 million people under age 65 and without health insurance are located? Kaiser Family Foundation shows the number uninsured by state. Ten states make up 58% (over 28 million) of the US uninsured under 65: California, Texas, Florida, New York, Georgia, Illinois, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. KFF statehealthfacts.org updated 2009
Estimates of Uninsured in Each County, US Census Bureau
Estimates of the number and percent uninsured under age 65, by state and county for 2009, provided by the U.S. Census Bureau. Small Area Health Insurance Estimates (SAHIE) released October 2011
Other Helpful Listings
Diabetes Hospitalizations, average cost & length of stay, 2004
Admission to a hospital in 2004 for a principal diagnosis of diabetes cost an average of $7600 (estimated true cost - note, prices would have been higher), and required a 5.3 day length of stay. Average age was 53, with two-thirds coming through the Emergency room (ED). Report shows higher rates of lower limb amputation for the uninsured and for males. AHRQ Statistical Brief #17 published Nov. 2006
Muskegon MI Access Health "Three-Share" Plan Innovation
Case study of Muskegon, Michigan's Three-Share health insurance plan where employers and employees each pay 30% and the community pays the remaining 40%. Automobile accidents and organ transplants are not covered, but primary care and prescriptions are. Innovative program 2005; report by EBRI - Employee Benefit Research Institute. Find 2010 C3 rates at access-health.org under Our C3 Initiative
National Healthcare Disparities Report, NHDR 2011 (pdf)
Comprehensive national overview of disparities in health care in America. This report (NHDR) concludes that health care quality and access are suboptimal for minority and low-income groups. While quality is improving, access and disparities are not improving. Healthcare disparities based on race and income, are examined. Huge file (256 pg) pub. Mar. 2012 by the federal AHRQ
ND - Health Insurance Among North Dakotans, 2004 (ppt)
View the powerpoint presentation on the uninsured and under-insured people in North Dakota. Study by UND's Center for Rural Health. When this was written, the number of uninsured was similar to the size of Bismarck
Replacing Employer-Based Health Insurance: CED's Total Reform Plan, Oct. 2007
Taking aim at the current cost-UNconscious health care system, the Committee for Economic Development (big business and education coalition) calls for a new system to totally replace employer-provided health insurance and ultimately achieve Market-Based Universal Health Insurance (without looking like Medicare, Canada or Consumer-Directed Health Plans). The new system would build on and adapt the current Federal Employees Health Benefits Plan (FEHBP), and create a new Health Fed agency. No timetable specified, but earlier related works talked about getting a new healthcare system by 2012. You'll want to read the full 134-page report: Quality, Affordable Health Care for All
Variation in Health Insurance Coverage Among Racial and Ethnic Groups (KFF)
Compare rates of insurance among different populations: white/non-Hispanic, Hispanic, black, Asian, American Indian. See Section 3. Kaiser Family Foundation report uses 2005 data. Published 2007
Wisconsin Health Insurance Coverage, 2009
Detailed look at the insurance coverage of Wisconsin population. Published by WI Division of Public Health Oct. 2010