In the first half of 1999, 15.8 percent of people in the United States, or 42.8 million people, were without health insurance coverage. Among people under 65, 17.9 percent, or 42.6 million people, were uninsured. This is according to the latest statistics from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS). Other MEPS data show the following:
- Young adults 19-24 years of age are more likely than other age groups to be uninsured. Almost one-third (32 percent) of young adults were uninsured in the first half of 1999.
- Among people under 65, Hispanics (36 percent) and blacks (21 percent) are much more likely than whites (14 percent) to be without health insurance.
- Among children under 18, 13.6 percent, or 9.8 million children, were uninsured in the first half of 1999.
For more information, see Health Insurance Status of the Civilian Noninstitutionalized Population: 1999. Research Findings #14 (AHRQ Publication No. 01-0011), which is available from the AHRQ Publications Clearinghouse. Full-year data from 1999 will be available in 2002.
Other recent MEPS publications available from AHRQ include:
- Health Care Expenses in the United States, 1996. Research Findings #12 (AHRQ Publication No. 01-0009).
- Expenses and Sources of Payment for Nursing Home Residents, 1996. Research Findings #13 (AHRQ Publication No. 01-0010).
- HMO Enrollment in the United States: Estimates Based on Household Reports, 1996. Research Findings #15 (AHRQ Publication No. 01-0014).
- Sample Design of the 1997 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Household Component. Methodology Report #11 (AHRQ Publication No. 01-0001).
Reprints of the above MEPS publications are available from the AHRQ Publications Clearinghouse.
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