Health Services Utilization
Health Insurance
People who are uninsured are less likely than
those with insurance to seek preventive care, which can result in
poor health outcomes and higher health care costs. In 2004, over
45 million people in the United States, representing 15.7 percent
of the population, were uninsured all year. The percentage of people
who are uninsured varies considerably across a number of categories,
including sex, age, race/ethnicity, income, and education. Males
were more likely than females to be without insurance (17.2 versus
14.3 percent), and adults were more likely than children (20.3 versus
11.2 percent).
The percentage of adults without health insurance
coverage has risen since the early 1990s. The total rate fluctuated
between 17 and 20 percent from 1991 until 2002; then, in 2003, the
rate surpassed the 20 percent mark for the first time in recent
years (20.3 percent). During each year since 1991, men were more
likely than women to be uninsured: in 2004, the rates were 22.6
and 18.6 percent, respectively.
Among females of all ages in 2004, 68.4 percent
had private insurance, 28.9 percent had public insurance, and 14.3
percent were uninsured. This varied by race and ethnicity: non-Hispanic
White females had the highest rate of private insurance coverage
(76.0 percent); followed by Asian women (70.6 percent). Black females
had the highest rate of public insurance coverage (36.6 percent),
and Hispanic females had the highest rate of being uninsured (29.5
percent).
> LINE
CHART: Adults Aged 18 and Older Without Health Insurance,
by Sex, 1991-2004
> VERTICAL
CHART: Health Insurance Coverage of Females (All Ages),
by Type of Coverage and Race/Ethnicity, 2004
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